Not a PS Staffer 9.3
26 October 2013 at 11:06 am
Mark Mitchell, MP for North Shore, is a former NZ Policeman who..
“launched an international business career which included the start-up of my own company specialising in hostage rescue, supply chain security and risk management. Working closely with the World Economic Forum, I helped to establish Logistic Emergency Response Teams…. ”
see http://www.markmitchell.co.nz/mark-mitchell-profile.html
Mitchell’s father-in-law Frank Gill was a National Party North Shore MP as well as being a minister and ambasador to Washington.
Mitchell is a well integrated into the National Party real power structures. Mitchell is also well integrated into the Special Services network, the Police and the Intelligence Services.
Mark Mitchell knew about the Len Brown affair because there was a professional project to displace Len that went beyond the Palino/Slater/Wewege amateurs.
Mark Mitchell’s father in law was a leery leech! Followed me around the Debating Chamber gallery many years ago. I was not impressed. Insisted on being called Air Commodore Gill. Struck me as lacking in any intellectual skills. Sounds like Mark Mitchell would have been a fine fit with his father-in-law.
Mitchell won’t sue Hager. This is just pre-relection deflection. There is nothing stopping him telling his lawyers to get cracking on it right now if he was serious. He is not serious, and like with Collins, this case will not see court.
There will, I suspect, be other cases that do see court. But not this one.
As a staunch supporter of the Left, I am becoming increasingly concerned about the dangerous gaps in policy.
Last night I didn’t sleep a wink. Not one party I could call as being from the political Left (Parties that truly care what happens to people) had any mention of one of the most important details of Health and economic development policy on their websites. Over on the Right party sites, they are neck deep in satirical logical fallacies, it’s easy to tell what they really mean, but on the Left, nothing. How would a left coalition government help those in need of Cognitive Dissonance? It’s not 1968 anymore, telling people you’ll do your best if nothing comes up and to put their trust in Good Faith just doesn’t cut it.
You know what happened the other day? I went to find my car and there was this awful stink. It was so bad I thought I’d run over a hedgehog on the way into work. You know what it was? One of those Street Lifestylers wedged between my front bumper and the pipes running along the wall of the building. It was trying to keep warm no doubt. Well someone paid for that heat and he stole it. Why don’t they just hang out in cafes like everyone else if he’s that bad off. God, I hate people who don’t do what’s right. Had to get the parking attendant to roll it away. Reality is becoming so much more difficult to ignore under successive governments and ignoring my growing unease just isn’t on. The next Left government really needs to act.
Awful interview by Espiner on RNZ.
Proof the media will not discuss policies and usual wants to talk polls etc….
Now we’ve read Dirty Politics, we know the agenda.
I just don’t know if personal stuff will have impact, or if it devalues the whole project. Hager’s been very careful to stick to the issues which show how the right has been manipulating the media and attacking its opponents, and we’ve already seen blowback like “well aren’t you doing exactly the same thing using hacked emails.”
If it gets personal it’s much, much easier for the right to brush it off by saying “see, the left are just as bad, this is politics as normal.”
given the nats current penchant for using tobacco companies to train some of its young candidates, whaledump on carrick gragam and slater might be edifying for some
Unbelievable! This no doubt was his attempt at “balance” after the roasting he gave the PM a week or so ago. But shouting 25% six times in a minute, and saying things like “I put it to you that nobody like you” is not the stuff of tough interviews – it is just a shallow and silly attack.
It’s a gotcha question. If Cunliffe answered “Sure, lots of people like me” he’d sound full of himself, if he said “Not enough like me” he’d sound hopeless. It’s like asking when someone stopped beating their wife.
Without a central leaker, Hager would have no book. He salutes their bravery. “We mustn’t fall for the idea that whistleblowers are doing something wrong. They are the natural reaction to undemocratic government.”
QFT
And that, to, is something that the National Party and their sycophants don’t want people to consider. It’s why they parrot the line that things were stolen which is just more of the manipulation that Dirty Politics shows so well.
Author of the Guardian article is Antony Loewenstein – one of the Australian Jewish community’s leading and most trenchant critics of Israel. Wrote My Israel Question (an excellent analysis of, amongst other things, the Zionist/”Pro”-Israeli excesses of sections of the Aussie Jewish community – particularly its lobby-groups) and co-founded Independent Australian Jewish Voices. He’s paid a substantial personal price over the years for his courage and integrity.
Awww .. thx, the Stuff link has excellent info about Whaledump. So Rawshark it is then, and our hacker does seem to be a man. Interesting comment that his motive, when fully understood, will point directly at him, and only him.
It’s a must read for many here.
But OUCH ! comment from someone under the Guardian article ..
‘NZ is the new Uruguay – a once prosperous nation now increasingly a relatively impoverished but scenic backwater’ .
Yes Awww Thanks for the Guardian link. The writer says that the dirty tricks happen all round the world and this expose is very timely. Niky has reached the World. And John Key has plummeted to the bowels of the World.
Mother of dead west coaster Slater defamed said it was most likely one of his friends was most likely the hacker!
And she was going to sue Camoron Slater!
All I’m aware of is the ‘feral’ comment about the dead man which has been reported in the press. I haven’t looked at Slater’s original remarks as I’d rather sort through used lavatory paper looking for re-usable sheets.
I’d think it unlikely, though. Establishing defamation is a pretty high bar. Frankly I doubt even Slater’s comment about Judd Hall as ‘feral’ would be legally defamatory in the way that, say, calling him a fraudster or paedophile would be.
The woman herself, in the morning report interview said as much about the phrase “feral” and said that a lot of people on the coast were quite happy with such a description. I’m not sure whether she specifically included herself in the group but she didn’t seem to find it offensive.
Surprised me. I would have found it so.
There was some speculation amongst a few of us last week about the identity of the hacker and thought it may be a classmate, friend or partner of Judd Hall’s – remember Nicky Hager said the motivation for the hacking wasn’t political.
Jo(e?) Hall, Judd’s Mum , said she hoped that Key would apologise for his connection with Slater when he visited the West Coast today. I think she might be mistaken, assuming that Key has some scruples.
Here’s the thing West Coast Tasman voters. In 2011 you gave your party vote to National, with National receiving the highest amount of party votes. On 20th September turn your backs on this party that has done nothing for you and whose leader stood by the one who mocked the death of one of your sons.
Make “zero party votes for National” your goal in 2014.
Lest we forget, what this present NatACT government has done to us!!!
While much attention has recently been given to the nasty “black ops” activities by a blogger by the name of Cameron Slater (aka “Whaleoil”) and certain senior staff in the Prime Minister’s Office, same as by Judith Collins and a few others, we must not forget what else happened over recent years, and for what Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has been responsible for. Here is a selection of news and other sources re her nasty “welfare reforms” and her own hypocrisy:
“Social Development Minister Paula Bennett admits that part of her welfare reforms breach the Bill of Rights Act but says it would not bother most people.” “And Attorney-General Chris Finlayson denies he deliberately withheld his report advising that part of the Government’s welfare plans breach the Bill of Rights Act. He puts the delay in its presentation to Parliament as an “administrative error”.”
“In July 2009, Bennett released the benefit details of two beneficiaries, Natasha Fuller and Jennifer Johnston, who had criticised the Government’s policy of getting rid of the Training Initiative Allowance (TIA). She said she believed she had “implied consent” for the release of the information.” “There has also been considerable criticism of Bennett for abolishing the TIA. Both Fuller and Labour MP Charles Chauvel said that they would make complaints to the privacy commissioner and Schroff, respectively.”
“The Privacy Commission investigated Bennett’s actions after receiving a complaint. In late 2010, Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff closed her investigation into the privacy complaint and referred the matter to the Director of Human Rights Proceedings for the Human Rights Commission, Robert Hesketh. On 15 August 2012, Hesketh announced the resolution of the complaint under the Privacy Act against Bennett, saying, “On the basis of the Minister’s letter to me, I have agreed to close my file. The matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.”[30] In her letter to Hesketh, Bennett wrote: “I have on previous occasions expressed to you through my counsel and to Ms Fuller, when I met with her in person, my regret at the personal cost that this incident has caused Ms Fuller. The purpose of this letter is to formally convey that.”
“As you know, I took the view that it was appropriate for me to respond to some of Ms Fuller’s comments in order to provide what I considered to be information relevant to the public debate that was taking place at the time. I acknowledge that you consider that I was wrong to do so and that this resulted in a breach of Ms Fuller’s privacy.” “As you also know, I do not accept that view.”
Chooky, I am most likely to give the Greens my party vote, although I cannot agree with some of their policies. They do though seem to offer the best deal to those dependent on WINZ, and actually want to bring in a kind of universal basic income, by replacing the present Social Security Act with new law. That basic income would be topped up, and it seems they are prepared to ensure people get enough to live from, whether they care for children, are disabled, studying or whatever else.
Like with all parties, they list much aspirational stuff, but I trust them more than Labour, certainly when it comes to social security. Question will be how much they can push for when negotiating with Labour to form a government, but I have reservations re Internet Mana, as they will most likely not be such an important player, and may not even be needed for a government. Also I have some concerns about Dotcom’s involvement, and how many in the public perceive them.
Labour have got some interesting social policy too now, but they really do much more for those able to work, and in some ways they seem only moderately caring for the unemployed sick and disabled. Work is their mantra for many social ills, a bit like the National Party, just not as unfair and harsh.
But take a look at all left of centre parties’ policies, I just stated my thoughts.
@xtasy…thanks!….that is good to hear about the Greens because i was going to Party vote for them anyway …you just confirm my intended vote ..I have a brother with a handicap and who is on a disability benefit….so i will make sure that he knows your arguments and research too… Generally he votes Labour…but he may like to consider the Greens this time.
Maybe you could turn this into a Post?….so a lot more people get to see your research, arguments and hear your perspective on this very important party policy issue.
I am not going to turn stuff into a post, although this “comment” above is the size of one. Over the coming days and weeks I will present a bit more of stuff that I have saved, that I can find by Google search, and that will remind people of what the Nats under Key and Bennett have done to harm and harass so many.
I will also endeavour to present a bit more on Dr Bratt and so forth. A few good comments on Open Mike will be read by many, I am sure.
well i think many beneficiaries and those who support them do need some guidance on which parties have the BEST policies for them and why….or at least a personal perspective from the coal face to spark off their thinking on which party to vote for
….you could always maybe circulate it in a post on the Daily Blog as well?
Just placed a reserve on Dirty Politics at the library. I am number 63 in the queue and there are 10 copies available for loan….so much for the public not being interested.
you can maybe ask on here for a loan copy from someone .. I can’t help as I have the kindle version on my computer. but asking is worth a try. (And to maintain mutual anonymity, make a new gmail account and post it for someone to contact you. I did it when book first came out, and had it all arranged .. but then ebook was available.)
#320 is a long way down and the election is close !
Good idea yeshe. We could have a Standardista Dirty Politics library. I’m in Wellington and more than happy to lend my copy. This book is essential reading for all NZer’s of any political colour. (principled National voters would be disgusted at the depths their party has sunk to)
I can’t afford to buy books these days (my days collecting of books came to an abrupt end when financial circumstances changed!) but used the grocery money to get my copy. Well worth having baked beans on toast two meals in a row as a consequence!
maybe not the same person, but same intent !! And more ….
I see the Pike River families are planning a silent protest at Key this afternoon with Jo Hall ( Judd’s mother) hopeful of an apology from Key .. well, at least she’s going to make it plain it is what she expects.
(oops .. just saw your previous post on same subject, sorry)
What I did last week — I created a new gmail account, with a family name .. then I posted that email addy on here for the poster to contact me, which he did. I don’t know if his name was real or not ! Good luck …
I’d suggest, if it were ok with Lynn, that if a person requested to borrow a book, that Lynn could forward the “issuer’s” email address to the “borrower”. This would perhaps mean there would a be a list on this site with commenters/issuers and their areas, that borrowers could select from. Borrower x see’s that issuer y in Tauranga has a copy of The Book they can lend. They get in touch via email and arrange collection or postage.
There needs to be an element of trust in doing this, but I feel more comfortable with option than yeshe’s one below. (Could you get spammed by crazies?)
Depends on whether Lynn and or authors have the time to muck around supplying emails.
or you could just strip out the DRM form a purchased copy from amazon and share that, takes less than 3 minutes to do. After all, information should be free and copyright is an outdated concept enforced by the fascist lackeys of corporates. If it wasn’t against the law (and I respect the property rights of the Standard), I’d a post a link to it here. Wouldn’t surprise me however if its not already on Mega.
“or you could just strip out the DRM form a purchased copy from amazon and share that, takes less than 3 minutes to do.”
How? I had a look online simply so I could open the book in something other than kindle which doesn’t support page numbering (doh!). The couple of online and download apps I tried couldn’t rip the book.
I have said I would never again post on TS, but in this case, I’m willing to make an exception. I will lend my copy. Contact me at “borrowdp [at] hmamail.com”
How long does your library loan books for? I would assume that it is a week so only 3 more people will get each book before the election.
I imagine the number on the list will go to zero on 21 September.
Didn’t hear it but heard my husband abusing the radio when he heard it. Didn’t blame him when he told me about guyons incisive, in depth interview of Cumliffe. I think DC should just send ‘The Office’ next time. Trying to get a decent interview from guyon is just a waste of time for David. Who says to ANYONE “I put it to you that nobody likes you” Well guyon, you are universally disliked , you could be better but you choose daily to show yourself up as a biased, boring lazy interviewer. And your voice is barely distinguishable from Susie’s
Nothing terribly surprises me anymore, but I have to admit that the NZ Herald is challenging that.
Today in the Herald there’s two puff pieces on National and none on Labour. Worse we get this in one of the puff pieces on National;
“National has goodies in reserve Labour is reaching the bottom of the pork barrel with its remaining election campaign spending promises curbed by Treasury’s forecasts last week of lower tax take.”
That’s the bit that everybody sees on the website.
The other puff piece, and the bit that everybody sees is;
“Housing plan: Winners and losers
National’s proposed home loan subsidies could help many young people into their first homes – although experts warn that the extra money will also push up house price”
Labour’s budget is presented as an ‘alternative’ budget.
There’s a story in the Money section titled;
“How to “Labour-proof” your portfolio”.
I cannot see how it is possible to maintain a democracy under these conditions.
“I cannot see how it is possible to maintain a democracy under these conditions.”
Only the illusion of democracy remains, soon as you understand that it makes sense.
Rawdie’s bloody thick as well. Just not up to it. Watch the uneasy pause, the shamble, the momentary ‘just sucked a lemon’ mouth when he gets a challenging response to whatever facile question/assertion he’s put/made.
Followed by eyes averted, semi-smile recovery. “W-e-e-l-l-l-l……nevertheless……”
Anyone catch that clip on telly this weekend where Slater said he would be involved in politics long after Key had left the scene?
And in a moment of supreme zen weirdness he said he had “met and dealt with” every PM from Muldoon onward?
How old is he? 40? If so, he reckons he was dealing with Muldoon when he was 10, and with Lange when he was 11. And he goes on telly and squints into the camera and says this as if it’s real.
Jesus, this is the fucking spoon Key got to help him run the country.
Remember his father was the president of the National party for years so dinner party’s bbq’s etc no doubt Camoron would have met and been influenced by National Party insiders he is a credit to all of them!
Prior to becoming the Nat Party president, he was the chairman of the all important Auckland National Division going back to the 1970s. Wee Cameron would have been the recipient of a lot of head patting from National Party senior figures as he grew up. Perhaps his head sustained a bit of damage in the process.
Doesn’t take Guyon long to revert to type, viz. snooty little clipped-tones toff, barely suppressing the alter ego of ‘Headmaster GodKey’ sans smirk lurking within. Michelle-Boag-on-steroids Ferguson equally unfit for RNZ Morning Report.
How unartful are these media lads and lassies when the only route to the guts of matters is their anger at being personally affronted ? As for example the “Is it OK ?” episode Guyon with TheGodKey last week.
An outstanding blog by Giovanni Tiso this morning.
I would have left a message congratulating him, but couldn’t figure out the new comments configuration on his site. So I’ll say it here: Bravo!
Just shows how inured we are to these kinds of arguments.
My particular bugbear is the false equivalence arguments where some nobody getting kicked unconscious in a gutter equals one Person Who Matters feeling insulted by a criticism about their behaviour. And we see these kinds of false equivalences and unequal treatment according to status all the time in the media because the bias it reflects is so ingrained – in a large part by the media itself in an obscene vicious circle with public opinion.
A beneficiary is vilified for not being able to make ends meet on a benefit set at a rate which makes doing so impossible, while in the same issue of the paper a Remuera couple who lost money in a collapsed finance company gets a sympathy piece and their “give a little” page which is up to $50,000 of donations is advertised because they might have to sell their house and buy something more affordable.
And who has been deliberately creating and maintaining these circles?
I agree, and this election has shown up the assumptions associated with inequality like no other. A National Party ad that verges on self parody, and could almost double as an ad for a posh private school. The hounding and demeaning of every representative on the left, while the PM, who really is accountable, is allowed to alter the meaning of words, and refuse to answer questions with impunity. Debate seems to have descended to the level of sixth form bitchery with the “aspirational” dominating the common room and the remainder cast as flea-bags. I am all but waiting for some lip-glossed, right leaning, TV presenter to shout, “You can’t say that to me, because I’m a TV presenter and I’m beautiful!”
Dame Anne Salmond: Royal commission of inquiry needed to clean up NZ’s dirty politics.
.
The Dirty Politics saga cuts to the heart of political life in New Zealand. Over the past 10 years there has been an insidious shift in the way that government works, with increasingly autocratic, arrogant ministers taking away the levers of power from citizens and civil servants.
The independence of the civil service has been eroded, with ministers routinely interfering in operational decisions. Last year, the Law Society felt impelled to report to the United Nations that Parliament had been used to pass a succession of acts that strip away rights, freedoms and protections from citizens, in breach of the Bill of Rights. Ministerial accountability has become a farce.
Lets see, John Key didn’t sell any assets as the controlling share is still held by the government whereas Labour sold 100% of the assets (and also a lot more then National ever did)
National strengthened the overseas investment rules (which were woeful under Labour) and yes more land was sold under Labour then has been sold under National
Also hes stated no more asset sales this term, its still legal to join a union and promoting free healthcare to under 13s
Yes hes a RWNJ and wants us to return to feudalism
Do we still own 100% of our power stations? No? Assets sold. And, due to the laws in NZ that prevent the majority shareholder from doing anything to decrease returns to minor shareholders means that we no longer have any control either
Chances are National only did that because knew that they wouldn’t get away with doing what they actually wanted.
Dear DTB and labour are going to sell housing nz land as part of kiwibuild. Funny how it is ok to sell nz state assets when we do it. A great opportunity lost as the land could be better used IMHO for new state houses. Then we have today in the herald 40m2 houses on 119m2 sections at a bargin $339k , is this what affordable housing has become we the voter should be demanding that state land esp within Auckland be used to build state houses, and also help to reduce the govt housing subsidy paid to land lords.
I don’t think it’s OK at all. I’m not impressed one bit by Labour’s housing policy. We need more state houses, and for many reasons. A good building program would provide training, employment, push prices down and have a follow on effect on private rents.
More than a third of voters may change their vote over Dirty Politics. Game changer.
“The shadow of ‘Dirty Politics’ still hangs over the campaign. John Key is not answering questions about the book on the trail anymore. He is trying to draw a line under it in the hope it has not damaged his and National’s position too badly. National’s internal polling is said to show the book’s revelations are not resonating with the public.
However, TVNZ’s Vote Compass survey found the book had affected 36% of the 13,913 voters who took the online poll, who said it may change their vote to varying degrees”
And on another issue National is on the wrong side of:
“A 3News Reid Research poll released last night showed 77% of voters believed there should be stricter controls on foreign ownership and 20% said there should not be stricter controls”
my favourite from the link .. thx BG .. good to be reminded this is all we need …
“The knife-edge nature of the electoral mathematics of MMP mean a loss of 2-3% support from National would be enough to put its re-election in doubt, and it is already going into the election with opinion poll support around 2-3% lower than in the lead-up to the 2011 election, which it won by less than 10,000 votes.”
Key cannot blame it on left wing conspiracy theorists any more!
Cameron Slater and Conman Key have to take Personal Responsibility for their self made mess!
Key can’t even blame dotcom!
Key is now trying to mumble his way round the massive mess of his own creation!
Key sounds like a lying little school boy!
Whoa! Didn’t know this one. There’s no mincing of words there. A bit edgy, I must admit but then again they weren’t” listened to” in 2011 (Listen to us) so the resentment edged up another notch. What does Farrar expect, the boys choir praising Key?
Excellent bass line. Quite uncomfortable with the threatening reference to fucking Key’s daughter though.
It’s a bit shocking Peter but then again a) it’s not going to happen b)I’ve listened to music all my life so am familiar with violent anti authority expressions and c) this view sums up my sentiments perfectly:
“………….. I don’t have to like it. I understand why its happening. When your suppress people and their voice it breaks through and it is not pretty as it would have been if you let them have a say in the first place.”
anker @24 11.16am
My main concern is with Key’s daughter being threatened. She has nothing to do with the running of the country and the threat sounds rather rapey to me. Myself I don’t like or dislike the lyrics (but like the melody) but I wouldn’t play it when people are around at my house, even guests that feel just as angry towards Key as @peace do.
I’ve listened a few times, and I agree Rosie that bit about Key’s daughter shocked me. Then listening through a few times, I think it’s a bragging attempt, and a pick up line – sad I know. It’s not that unusual for hip-hop artist – to do these brags. I think they deliberately made this section of the song shocking, but he does a vocal twist at end – to introduce himself and make it apparent who he talking to.
That said, they use shock a lot in their songs, and sexist language. Here for the other tunes.
*Now that I have your attention, may I remind you that
130,000 ELIGIBLE PEOPLE UNDER 25 HAVE NOT YET ENROLLED.
The current PM does not care about these people. He does not care about the growing gap between the rich and the poor in our country. He does not care about the native people of our country. He does not care about the planet we depend upon to survive, the living organism that we as humans are a functioning part of. He does not care about the right we should all have to an education. He only cares about him and his friends.
I do not want to literally kill this man. I do not wish to have sexual relations with anybody related to him. Let’s not pretend a silly little song ever changed anything. Last I seen famine was still going pretty strong since ‘Heal The World’ came out. It’s just a song. No different from Thatcher era punk. Anyone ever heard “Maggie you’re a cunt”..?
What’s important is that we ENROL TO VOTE so that we have a chance to select someone to represent us who understands the concept of empathy.
I’m fed up with this dude. But if you want to vote for him, that’s your choice. Personally, I’m voting Greens but you can vote for whoever you like. You can choose between a whole bunch of different people who represent a whole bunch of different ideologies. That’s the beauty of the political system in NZ.
Please respect my right to express my disappointment for the leader of our country.*
Thats a well written statement. Clarifies the violent intent (none) and expands on the message.
I get what you’re saying adam re the boasting/ bragging and have heard it plenty of times in songs. Get’s a bit eye rolly though, as a woman hearing it. Thanks for sharing other tunes. I’ve made a mental note to have a listen when I get a chance.
I run a small business and none of the IMP policies worry me at all. I’m more worried about the mismanagement by national and the old boys clubs with infest national, and some could say labour.
This is not capitalism, in capitalism you got to take the hits and gains. The highs and the lows. This is profit taking and a mad rush to get the last of the resources.
Yep. It seems the Left have a bit of impression management and communication to the small business sector catch up with. Policies which make the life of small business owners simpler and give our customers more disposable income is all good for SMEs.
Because more then likely the Greens would come in as well and the Greens are wanting to implement more costs over water rights so why would farmers vote for more costs?
Kim Dotcom has told OneNews the big international name who will play a role in the bombshell he’ll drop on the prime minister: WikiLeaks founder and fugitive Julian Assange, who’s holed up in Ecuador’s London embassy, is set to take part in a pre-election attack on John Key.
“I can give you a hint. Someone who is currently locked up in an embassy might be on a live video link,” Mr Dotcom said.
Mr Dotcom had warned something big will come out on September 15, just five days from the election.
He has already hired journalist Glen Greenwald, who made public the Edward Snowdon leaks. Now the addition of Mr Assange confirms the September 15 event will be about New Zealand’s spying.
Asked will September 15 do more damage to Mr Key than the Dirty Politics book has, Mr Dotcom told OneNews: “I think so.”
KDC said that thing during the IMP launch about how he didn’t like the German PM so hacked his credit rating to zero, and there is another PM he doesn’t like. Makes me uncomfortable, when he talks about what he wants and likes etc, instead of talking about the general good. Still too much ego and I’m just glad he’s not gunning for someone on the left (this could just as easily be about a Labour govt as a NACT one).
While I understand how KDC’s actions fall outside of healthy political action – it’s also why IMP is the dark horse in this election.
Increasingly young people are no longer interested in conventionally sanctioned political actions. They increasingly see the entire system as compromised at best – irredeemably corrupted at worst.
For them this kind of direct action, redolent of the “V” and “Anonymous” memes, holds far more appeal.
Agreed, IMP are effective in what they do. I think I will just keep expressing my discomfit about KDC himself, because as bad as things are now we still have many good things to lose.
Am also getting sick of the whole “we’re fucked” as youth slogan thing. We do have choices, and more choices this election than ever. I really wish people would get over the idea that voting is about getting what one wants. It’s not, it’s about moving us towards a better place, or even just a place where it’s easier to do the real work of effecting change. I’ve never been able to vote for a party that represents me well, but that hasn’t stopped me from seeing the value in voting. All power to IMP, I hope they do really well, but I still think that we should be encouraging people to vote because it’s a form of power irrespective of whether there is a cool party to vote for or not (and it’s not like back in the FPP dark ages when I would have had to be voting Labour at this point 😉
Yeah – and it’s worth keeping in mind that a lot of real change comes from radicals outside of the system who over time learn to work effectively within it.
On the other hand the “we’re fucked” thing will need to find a legitimate political outlet sooner or later. Preferably sooner – and if KDC is the vehicle then so be it. No-one else seems to have put their hand up.
Yeah – and it’s worth keeping in mind that a lot of real change comes from radicals outside of the system who over time learn to work effectively within it.
or alternatively, pressure from radicals and mass movements which choose to never compromise sufficiently to become part of the establishment – but who by doing so effectively force those within the establishment to take those radical viewpoints into account. A historical example of this was FDR’s New Deal. Without massive pressure from workers and socialist movements – including riots and dozens of strikers killed – FDR would never have passed the New Deal. As a conciliatory figure trying to protect the future of capitalism, he had to.
Can include also the fact that TPPA is another attempt at resurrecting the MAI that was roundly rejected back in 1998. Laila Harre has pointed out to the role of online opposition in defeating the MAI and we can do it again [on video online that I viewed recently and I would be happy if someone can find it].
Worth referring to Bryan Gould’s piece in December last year which refers to the MAI-TPPA connection:
“Part of a protest march moves through Wellington in 1998, on its way to Parliament. The Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) was proposed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), of which New Zealand is a member. The MAI was intended to provide a framework for international investment based on highly liberalised national investment controls and improved investment protection, with effective dispute settlement procedures, open to non-OECD countries. The proposal provoked vehement opposition internationally. Those opposed argued the MAI favoured big business and was being imposed without adequate consultation. In the end, the initiative collapsed.”
EiE @19.1.1. Don’t like the song. Not the way to go.
On another note did anyone see, has anyone noticed David Fisher, about his relationship with Slater. Don’t have the link at hand. I wonder how many more we are going to see like this coming out of the word work.
It’s just a song. It won’t appeal to middle NZ sensibilities. And it’s not helpful for unpoisoning our politics. But Neoliberal policies are actually killing tens of thousands in NZ before their due time and we all accept that.
No, it isn’t mildly distasteful. It is way, way worse than that and sentiments encouraging rape and violence should not be considered justifiable by anybody professing to be left wing. I loathe John Key and fear for the future of NZ if he gets reelected. This song is more likely to get him sympathy at a time that those who thought he was great are beginning to ask questions. Really dumb.
I inwardly groan when I see a leftie express the anger in terms of violence or killing political opponents (in a country like NZ that isn’t a war zone). I don’t think it’a helpful to the left at all.
It’s because they either don’t want it to turn up in the polls – or they hoping they bury their heads long enough it will go away.
But just stop and talk to the young people, they are pissed off. They see what’s happening, they are not stupid. I talk to young mum’s and dads on a regular basis – they feel the future is going to be absolute hell for their kids. – I think they are right.
“I worry about what will replace it when the anger is expressed in the language of violence.”
Yeah it’s a worry alright. But it’s also entirely predictable considering the violence this govt and those they represent have inflicted on large segments of the populace.
This is a really important conversation. We’ve seen a generation of young people alienated from the political process – and that is never a stable condition.
Sooner or later something or someone will trigger that instability – and this small country may see consequences from our deepest nightmares.
It’s why the left must keep campaigning hard to get these people back voting.
Oh poor key and sophie
Key himself draws his kids into it. I’ll try and hunt it out but there’s the time Key had been bailed up about some shares – tranzrail? – and he quipped ‘ I even offered them to Max and he didn’t want them..’
The article linked on karol’s post perhaps anker? It’s an excellent article. Shines a light on a topic, their relationship with sources, that no other journalists, most likely for a myriad of reasons, have not been able or will not to raise.
Rod Oram on Radionz on housing policies at moment, National first then Labour. Good as usual.
Says that a big change will be needed from the trend to build expensive homes as being more profitable. He talks about the building sector needing to have sort of templates to design and build cheaper homes. If we had an active government, there would be model houses designed for country-wide use, for cost and materials and practicality designed by people using their specialist knowledge for the benefit of NZs. A Buildings department would be a good idea. I think we have something of that nature that is prevented from being the needed guide by some ill-advised ideology.
EiE @ 22.1 Yep that is true. I don’t have to like it. I understand why its happening. When your suppress people and their voice it breaks through and it is not pretty as it would have been if you let them have a say in the first place.
As ratshit ridiculous and plainly unprofessional as Gower can be in the visual medium Plunket comes across as the overbearing, hectoring bully in the talkback context. One for Gower here. Neither however approach the master of the universe chappie coining himself “Well Oi’ll Bee Fooked”.
The scum involved in #dirtypolitics were/are only a phone call removed from sinister shit like this.
The National Security Agency is secretly providing data to nearly two dozen U.S. government agencies with a “Google-like” search engine built to share more than 850 billion records about phone calls, emails, cellphone locations, and internet chats, according to classified documents obtained by The Intercept.
The documents provide the first definitive evidence that the NSA has for years made massive amounts of surveillance data directly accessible to domestic law enforcement agencies. Planning documents for ICREACH, as the search engine is called, cite the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration as key participants.
ICREACH contains information on the private communications of foreigners and, it appears, millions of records on American citizens who have not been accused of any wrongdoing. Details about its existence are contained in the archive of materials provided to The Intercept by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
and this published online, dated today … lots in there I don’t personally understand, but the machinations seem deep and acidly corrosive. Have we just been been surfing on a cesspit this whole time ? Eeew.
ah, more traditional right-wing stalkerising.
Tell me, did farrar base the alleged green-connection on stolen membership records, or simply because the guy turned up to a protest?
I think he based it more on what the guy put on his own facebook page however I concede it may have been put there by a vengeful SIS in an effort to make the drop kick look bad
yes, because whenever I see someone in the court news I need to see what posts on their facebook page can be twisted for my purposes 🙄 #rightwingstalkers
protip: not everyone who says “fuck john key” is a “green party activist”.
Hey PR, was it you who – a week or so before #hagerbook – was here bragging that the dirty tricks crew have one story/smear to release every day until the election?
This shit has got to end. So many questions like that from Brent Robinson going unanswered. He quite categorically states that Mitchell told him he had hired Lusk and Slater to do the dirty work. Now Mitchell is denying ever having spoken to Robinson about it.
This guy Mitchell is an ex mercenary, the worst type of hired thug you can get. What do the good people of Rodney think? More needs to be made of this story including some effing journos door-stepping Mitchell.
xox
Present at Oxfam Climate Change Debate in Wellington. VUW. Rutherford house. Greens present,Labour present, NZFirst present. National absent. The worlds under serious threat. National , no show. Incredible.
Funny eh? Seems that the narrow constraints of polite political discourse conducted by a handful of utterly conflicted and well-heeled insiders has somehow completely misread the depth of the disgust and contempt this govt inspires in many, many people.
John Key failed to distance himself from Slater even when he was on the West Coast and face to face with the mother of the young man over whose death Slater danced for joy and talked with Key about. Key had nothing to say to her and Key stood with Slater. Says it all.
Interesting that Labour’s David Parker (at the debate in Queenstown tonight) argues against ‘low value’ immigration on the basis the modern economy has a diminishing need for labour, yet he is intent on pushing the age of Super out, increasing the labour pool.
That just goes to show that he’s an unreconstructed Rogernome at heart. If the left lose this time, I think he will be at least as responsible as any individual.
Weka. Use caliber to manage your books. It’s pretty much an iTunes equivalent for ebooks. Apparently there are addins for it that you can find on the interweb that automatically perform various tasks. Depending on the task u want to automate, just Google for it.
do you mean Calibre? I already use that, but it can’t read the Kindle version of Dirty Politics. Once imported into Calibre, it will prompt Kindle to open and show the book there instead. Like I said, I tried various ripping options and none of them could get past the DRM, so I’m curious how you think it can be ripped easily within a few minutes.
Edit: ah ok, I see what you mean. There is a Kindleunpackit addon that creates a new file that can be read in Calibre and presumably ripped to PDF etc. cheers.
Dr Sommer Kapitan, Auckland University of Technology, and Dr Patrick van Esch, Auckland University of TechnologyThe Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill will limit vape sales at dairies and service stations to only three flavours, and make vaping illegal in smokefree areas. Vaping laws will be more ...
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Aug 2, 2020 through Sat, Aug 8, 2020Editor's ChoiceFive Years After Speaking Out on Climate Change, Pope Francis Sounds an Urgent AlarmThe encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ motivated many people ...
From some quarters, incessant scaremongering. From others, it’s a full-on tilt into touching the alarmist buttons a little too readily (uncertain times make for very captive audiences with this angle of attack). The (so-called) Opposition (and merely regarding them as that seems to be a far looser term now ...
National Party leader - Judith CollinsElections often bring out the best and worst in politicians. Some rise to the occasion and provide us with a clear vision for the future. While others wallow in resentment and controversy, over-relying on attack politics to try to attain the interest of voters.That’s been ...
The attempts to sabotage Corbyn's leadership seems likely to do more damage than Corbyn supposedly ever could have done, even if all the stories about him were true:I was reluctant to say anything but this is too important, the full story needs to be told.Don’t let anyone ever tell ...
Good day to everyone. I’ve been asked by Mr Thinks to come here and talk to you all about my concerns regarding the government response to Covid-19. We’ve been living through this pandemic for, what seems like, years. Years and years and years. Why else would the National Party have ...
‘Good Economics for Hard Times’ should be on your reading list. New Zealand does not have a Minister of Labour. It has Ministers of Immigration and Workplace Relations and Safety but there is no minister with responsibility for the labour market. That responsibility was abolished in 2012 when ...
Back in the Kyoto era, the international climate change regime included a Clean Development Mechanism to fund emissions reduction projects in developing nations. Essentially someone would certify that a project - e.g. building a windfarm, or installing energy-efficient lightbulbs - would reduce emissions over and above "business-as-usual". The project would ...
As the classic MMP cartoon goes, just look at who is against it. Yesterday, the Hamilton City Council voted to use STV for its next two local body elections. The move was initially opposed by deputy mayor Geoff Taylor. The reason? Because a voting system which provided accurate representation and ...
On Wednesday evening (which in Parliament’s weird world technically was still Tuesday because urgency had been taken and so time stood still), MPs united to remove a pretty terrible piece of law from our statute books. No real fanfare or fireworks accompanied this action. Indeed, I didn’t even know about it ...
By Geoffrey Miller Prominent refugee advocate Murdoch Stephens says he is disappointed by Judith Collins’ reaction to Immigration New Zealand’s decision to grant refugee status to Kurdish-Iranian writer Behrouz Boochani. Judith Collins told media last month that “there’s a lot of concern in New Zealand about what they see as ...
Hello all. Judith here to talk about how National are going to take the election in September. The National Party prides itself its unity and cohesion. We are working together to deliver for New Zealanders. First of all, ee are a strong team. We are a very strong team. Our ...
Parliament has just begun the adjournment debate, signalling the effective end of this Parliament. So it seems like an appropriate time to assess Labour's term in office. Unfortunately, its a pretty dismal assessment. Labour campaigned on one thing: change. Not just a change in who got the top jobs and ...
Our climate change policies are insufficient to achieve our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, according to independent assessor Climate Action Tracker: New Zealand won’t be carbon neutral by 2050 without much stronger policies, says an independent analysis by Climate Action Tracker. The non-profit highlighted a lack of active ...
That was clearly a huge explosion. Just after the explosion, we see a cloud of ‘fog’ moving outwards at high speed. This is a shockwave, rather similar to that which causes a sonic boom. The ‘fog’ is caused by water condensing from the atmosphere in areas of intense low pressure ...
Can we postpone this year’s election? Quite frankly, the political parties don’t seem ready for it, and aren’t about to offer voters the necessary policy choices for the unprecedented times we’re in. We’ve ended up with a campaign focused on scandal, personality and leadership, with a policy void that’s worse ...
It is the last sitting day of Parliament, and the last question time before the House is dissolved. So, are there any questions about the damning findings of the Hit and Run inquiry, and how the government plans to bring the military back under democratic control? Of course not. ...
Property speculator - John KeyThe National Party must be in dire straits to have to rely on John Key to campaign on their behalf. Not only has the former PM been in the news claiming the recently released unemployment figures aren’t accurate, the fool has also been promoting the opening ...
Nothing Too Drastic: Few would dispute that the Left, today, are few in number. Is their failure to make the public aware of and act upon the manifest failures of the present system attributable to their lack of active energy and intelligence? Or, is it simply because the Left’s ideas ...
by Don Franks This talk was given to the Wellington Anti Capitalist Alliance, fifteen years ago. The ultimate weapons of mass destruction so far seen on this planet have been used just twice, 60 years ago this month. August 6 and August 9 1945 witnessed the US atomic bombing ...
After I noticed that my name had been taken yet again in vain by my friendly antagonist Tom Hunter over at No Minister, I went over to see what the fuss was about. Nothing much, but then I discovered a post about the Operation Burnham Inquiry by Psycho Milt. I ...
The COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 was extended today, until December 1st or the tenth sitting day following the resumption of Parliament after the election. It seems like a necessary extension. While we currently have eradicated the virus in New Zealand, it is still banging at the door, and ...
One of the government's key policies - extracted by NZ First as part of its coalition agreement - is the "Provincial Growth Fund": $1 billion a year spent on creating jobs in rural New Zealand. Yesterday the Auditor-General issued a report on the fund, finding that it lacks transparency, and ...
The Warehouse, one of New Zealand's biggest retailers, has decided to stop selling coal. Good. Coal is a dirty, polluting fossil fuel, and the less of it we have out there, the better. Retailers choosing not to sell it sends a clear message that this is not a fuel we ...
The labour market statistics have been released, and they show that unemployment actually dropped last quarter. All told, there are 111,000 unemployed - 15,000 fewer than when the government took office. But before anyone thinks that the pandemic hasn't put people out of work, remember that this is for ...
Judy KavanaghI’m OK with wearing a CovidCard. But are you? There’s no point me doing it alone.The author modelling a (fake) CovidCard. I didn’t know much about the CovidCard proposal until I read Dave’s latest blog post. You would wear the card visibly on your person. It ...
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nzWhy can’t I use the battery from my electric car ...
As many good things come in threes (as the saying goes), we are happy to announce a third partnership between Skeptical Science and other websites. Fakebook.eco in Brazil is joining Klimafakten.de in Germany and Nauka o Klimacie in Poland to leverage translated rebuttal material and to make the information readily available in other ...
This interview on RNZ with Ross Tucker, the scientist who headed a review of transgender athletes playing in women’s rugby, discusses the findings of the review and what it means for women in sports. The review that World Rugby undertook had a broad range of independent experts and included a ...
Siouxsie WilesThe restrictions in place for metropolitan Melbourne now are in some ways stricter than those that were in force during New Zealand’s COVID-19 lockdown. A curfew is in place and most people have to wear masks when they leave their home – neither of which happened in New ...
On Friday the Hit and Run inquiry delivered a devastating report which found that NZDF had systematically misled Ministers over civilian deaths. The report called into question civilian control of the military (and indeed, military control of the military), a fundamental principle of our democracy. So you'd expect our politicians ...
Let's Do This Again: What else can Jacinda do in a political environment so bereft of imagination and courage but seek a continuance? If she trades upon the extraordinary personal qualities that she has, miraculously, carried with her into the office of Prime Minister, then I, for one, will offer ...
How corrupt are the New Zealand Police? This corrupt: On 10 February 2019, Police attended a family harm incident. The suspect attempted to run the attending officers over in a driveway with his car, narrowly missing them, before fleeing the scene. A short pursuit followed, ending when the suspect stopped ...
Parliament's triennial Review of Standing Orders was released today, and it contains a number of welcome, if minor, improvements. The ones that caught my are: A move to encourage "pre-legislative engagement" - the government consulting widely on legislation before it is introduced - by promising easier passage (e.g. with ...
Lauren Vargo, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of WellingtonGlaciers around the world are melting — and for the first time, we can now directly attribute annual ice loss to climate change. We analysed two years in which glaciers in New Zealand melted the most in at least four ...
Caroline Shaw, Anja MizdrakE-bikes are everywhere. Sales are booming and predicted to overtake sales of new cars in a few years. There were three times as many e-bikes and e-scooters imported into NZ in 2019 alone as there are e-cars in the entire country. You can’t go out in ...
New Zealand First is facing a difficult struggle to get re-elected, but Josh Van Veen, who was once a researcher for Winston Peters, argues that there is still a very significant section of cultural conservatives who oppose mass immigration and political correctness and might yet be won back over to ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk Many Americans these days seem unable to avoid controversy on practically any topic, so why not embrace the discord and wade into the especially volatile arena of nuclear energy? Advocates claim it’s the only way to meet global climate goals, ...
Can we trust New Zealand’s military? There must now be serious doubt, given the landmark report released on Friday concluding the investigation into allegations made in the book Hit and Run by Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson about a 2010 SAS killing raid in Afghanistan. The most recent Colmar Brunton ...
In New Zealand, we've just had the report of the Hit and Run inquiry, which found that a New Zealand led raid had accidentally killed civilians, including a child. meanwhile, around the same time, the British SAS was conducting its own raids in Afghanistan, and theirs were a hell of ...
In addition to establishing a process for setting emissions reductions plans, the Zero Carbon Act established a process for managing the risks of climate change. The first part of this is the preparation of regular risk assessments, looking at the risks to our economy, society, environment, and ecology. The first ...
Over on The spinoff, Amnesty International's Meg de Ronde has a response to Friday's release of the Hit and Run report. And in response to Attorney-General David Parker's claim that the government was being "transparent" by releasing the report, its titled "we shouldn’t have to work this hard to get ...
Story of the Week... Opinion of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... Story of the Week... Rising Seas Could Menace Millions Beyond Shorelines, Study FindsAs climate change raises sea levels, storm surges and high tides will ...
There's an election next month, so you'd be expecting political parties to be telling us what they stand for and what they'd do if they'd win. But while the Greens have given us a detailed policy platform, and National has talked about roads and austerity, Labour, currently leading the polls ...
"Who's youse accusin' of innference?" Without the timely intervention of a team of top American political consultants and campaign experts, Boris Yeltsin would never have won his second term as President of the Russian Federation. The Russians waited 20 years to return the favour.WHEN IT COMES to the disinformation game, ...
As polling day in the American presidential election draws closer, things are looking bad for Donald Trump. The polls show that he is tracking well behind his Democrat rival. Most people assume that the President will be striving might and main to avoid what looks increasingly likely to be a ...
Our health professionals do an amazing job. Image credit: Wikipedia – Cardiac surgery. Finally, I have got back to these rankings. A long period in hospital and computer problems meant the June 2020 rankings were abandoned. Now, with a new personal defibrillator implanted in my chest and a new hard ...
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, July 26 through Sat, Aug 1, 2020Editor's ChoiceThe four types of climate denier, and why you should ignore them allThe shill, the grifter, the egomaniac and the ideological ...
Over the last few days, reports have emerged of people travelling from New Zealand and testing positive for Covid-19 upon arrival at their destination. First in South Korea and now in Australia. What might these positive tests mean?They’re false-positives As Toby Morris and I have explained before, there are ...
Former National Minister - Wayne MappYou could tell that the Hit and Run book by investigative journalists Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson was right on the money by the way former National Party Minister of Defence, Wayne Mapp, reacted to its now largely vindicated claims.Even though the recent inquiry into ...
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We are failing to think though the interdependencies in an economy. We miss economist Bryan Philpott (1921-2000). I miss him personally – we used to have such great discussions – but this column is about how the nation misses his economic experience and wisdom. We tend to ...
Michelle Boag - LeakerThe Heron report (PDF) was released yesterday, and it was a bit disappointing to say the least. It correctly found that former National Party president Michelle Boag and National Party MP Hamish Walker were politically motivated in leaking peoples private medical information, but didn’t look further into ...
Adam Smith, Massey UniversityA recent global assessment of shark populations at 371 coral reefs in 58 countries found no sharks at almost 20% of reefs and alarmingly low numbers at many others. The study, which involved over 100 scientists under the Global FinPrint project, gave New Zealand a good ...
On different trajectories and from different ends of the political spectrum, last night’s One News/Colmar Brunton poll has the Green Party and ACT converging around the five percent mark. And, as odd as it may sound, they head into the election campaign with a lot in common.Putting the Greens and ...
Janet Stephenson, University of OtagoA proposed multibillion-dollar project to build a pumped hydro storage plant could make New Zealand’s electricity grid 100% renewable, but expensive new infrastructure may not be the best way to achieve this. New Zealand’s electricity generation is already around 80% renewable, with just over half ...
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This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Government rulemakers looking to decide how much money to spend to avoid adding more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere need a good estimate of what a warming climate will cost in social damages, for example through more extreme weather events. That point makes ...
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I hope we can all agree that charging only certain returning expats for isolation costs is the right call. Instead of a blanket fee, which may have resulted in a small number of Kiwis deciding not to return home because of financial reasons, the Government has chosen to implement a ...
Back at the beginning of this government, the Greens made a foolish decision to support the Electoral Integrity Act - demanded by Winston Peters to keep his own backbench in line as part of his coalition deal with Labour - as an act of good faith within the coalition. It ...
SATURDAY AUGUST 1Artefact (Prime, 7.30pm). The series presented by Dame Anne Salmond screened on Māori Television, but is totally worth revisiting if you saw it the first time. Dame Anne tells the stories of taonga that highlight the history of Aotearoa. Further reading: this 2013 interview with Dame Anne by the lovely ...
Have unions and the Government sold workers short with their attempt at fixing the so-called “Hobbit Law”? Unionist Ian Powell argues that the union movement has been outmanoeuvered, and the Government has agreed to a new piece of anti-worker legislation that retains the principles of the previous National Government’s hated ...
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Last week, after Judith Collins announced that National would be cruel and vicious to kiwis caught overseas by the pandemic, and rob them at the border if they returned home, Labour looked like it was falling all over itself to cry "me too". But now, it looks like kindness has ...
We've announced that we will expand the Flexi-wage programme to support up to 40,000 more people into work, or to help them start their own business. It's yet another way we're helping keep our economy moving by getting people into work and training. Read on to find out more ...
Business subsidy of on average $7500, and up to $22,000, to hire unemployed New ZealandersUp to 40,000 jobs to be supported by $311 million investment in keeping New Zealanders off the unemployment benefitRing-fenced fund to help unemployed start their own business ...
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Kia orana and kia ora koutou katoa. It is a privilege to be able to speak in this adjournment debate and to mark and acknowledge the fact that we are now two years and 10 months into the conclusion of a parliamentary term that has been extraordinary in so many ...
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We went hard and we went early in our health response to COVID-19, and we did everything we could to cushion the economic impact too. In fact, we can fill every letter of the alphabet with the steps we took to fight COVID-19 and ensure we were in a position ...
Investing in our people, backing businesses, and upgrading infrastructure and housing throughout the country - it's been another week of progress for New Zealanders as we deliver our plan to recover and rebuild. ...
July was another busy month, packed with key investments aimed at progressing our economic recovery as we rebuild New Zealand. We extended support for businesses, helped create jobs through local infrastructure projects, and kept working to clean up our waterways so Kiwis can access safe clean water. Check out the ...
The Green Party is calling for the Defence Force Chiefs in place between 2010-2017 to front up and explain how dishonesty, process and policy failures within the Defence Force led to ‘a series of incorrect statements in briefings to ministers and public releases’ regarding alleged breaches of international torture prevention ...
Thanks to our strong health response, New Zealand’s economy is more open than many other countries. But as COVID continues to surge around the world, the economic consequences of the virus will continue to be a challenge, which is why we have a detailed plan to help New Zealand bounce ...
Thanks to our strong health response, New Zealand’s economy is more open than many other countries. But as COVID continues to surge around the world, the economic consequences of the virus will continue to be a challenge, which is why we have a detailed plan to help New Zealand bounce ...
The Government is stepping up action to deal with environmentally harmful products – including plastic packaging, tyres and e-waste – before they become waste. ...
The Green Party are ensuring that New Zealanders who were overseas when COVID-19 hit will not be charged for the cost of isolation or quarantine if they return home to live. ...
It's been another week of creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and investing in infrastructure up and down the country - all of which are helping to keep our economy moving post-COVID-19. ...
Law changes to end tenure review and provide for better management of Crown pastoral lands in the South Island high country were considered by Parliament today with the first reading of the Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill says Minister for Land Information, Eugenie Sage. ...
The Green Party have secured legislative amendments in a bill expected to pass third reading this week, to ensure better rules for school teachers and staff, so they can de-escalate children with diverse needs and cognitive differences, such as autism, rather than using unnecessary and often traumatising force. ...
New Zealand needs to be more aggressive in pursuing economic opportunities and resist the short-term thinking affecting some of its major industry, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says.Mr Peters told Wellington Chamber of Commerce members this morning that the planned closure of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter will have ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has ridiculed the National Party "circus", with the politician saying it was in "chaos" after the resignation of another MP.Rangitata MP Andrew Falloon announced on Monday he would retire from politics after he allegedly sent inappropriate pornographic images to a young woman. Following a ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters today outlined what he saw as the requirements to re-open New Zealand's borders for tourists and travellers. If New Zealand was dealing solely with an Australian state such as Tasmania, we wouldn't need a vaccine, said Mr Peters, but these moves were complicated by the ...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters appears to have prompted last-minute alterations to proposed legislation for commercial landlords and their tenants. Mr Peters told reporters on Wednesday said that he was making sure the proposed bill was in step with what the parties had actually agreed to. He said he ...
Associate Minister for State Owned Enterprise and New Zealand First List MP Shane Jones attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new NZ Post "super depot" in Wellington. The state-owned postal service, which got $280 million from the Coalition Government last month, is expanding its operations to handle surging parcel volumes. ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First CHECK AGAINST DELIVERYIntroduction Good afternoon. Welcome to you all here today and party supporters watching from around the country. We appreciate your hard work keeping New Zealand First strong; thank you for keeping the faith. Sixty-three days out from Election Day, ...
The diversity of conservation boards around Aotearoa is increasing with 47 appointments to 14 of the 15 conservation boards across New Zealand announced today by the Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage. ...
A pest free Banks Peninsula/Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū is one step closer with a $5.11 million boost to accelerate this project and create jobs, announced Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage in Canterbury today. “This is a game changer for this ambitious project to restore the native wildlife and plants on Ōtautahi/Christchurch’s doorstep ...
A Government grant of $6.4 million will expand the Pettigrew Arena in Taradale with new indoor courts of national standard. “The project is likely to take 18 months with approximately 300 people employed through the process,” Grant Robertson said. “The expansion will increase the indoor court space up to 11 ...
The Far North tourist destination of Mangonui is to receive Government funding to improve waterfront infrastructure, open up access to the harbour and improve water quality, Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones has announced. A total of $6.5 million from the $3 billion set aside in the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund ...
The Government has re-affirmed its commitment to supporting the hosting of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, which the ICC has delayed from 2021 to 2022. “This is obviously a disappointing decision for cricket players and fans around the world and for the White Ferns and their supporters here at ...
Cyclists and walkers will now have a safer way to get around Taupō, Tūrangi, and between Hamilton and Cambridge, with funding for shared paths and Te Awa River Ride, Associate Minister of Transport Julie Anne Genter announced today. “The Te Awa River Ride is the latest part of massive growth ...
Six major cycle routes will be completed in Christchurch thanks to funding from the Government’s investment in shovel-ready infrastructure as part of the COVID-19 recovery Associate Minister of Transport Julie Anne Genter announced today. $125 million will be invested to kick-start construction and fund the completion of the following cycleway ...
Plans are underway for a brand new state-of-the-art hub for Whanganui’s justice and social agencies, following confirmation the ageing Whanganui Central Police Station is to be replaced. Police Minister Stuart Nash has announced $25 million in new infrastructure spending to improve facilities for the wider community, and for staff who ...
An adjustment payment has been made to Waikato-Tainui and Ngāi Tahu under the relativity mechanisms in their 1995 and 1997 Treaty of Waitangi settlements, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little announced today. The latest payments to Waikato-Tainui and Ngāi Tahu are $2,700,000 and $2,600,000 respectively to ensure the ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Transport Minister Phil Twyford today kicked off the start of the Auckland NZ Upgrade Programme rail projects which will support over 400 jobs and help unlock our biggest city. Both ministers marked the start of enabling works on the third main rail line project ...
The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) investment of $3.78 million in Wairoa will create much needed economic stimulus and jobs, Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced today. PGF projects announced today include: $200,000 loan to Nuhaka Kiwifruit Holdings Ltd (operated by Pine Valley Orchard Ltd) to increase the productivity ...
Tenants in public and Māori housing may be benefiting from their own affordable renewable energy in future – a fund to trial renewable energy technology for public and Māori housing has today been announced by Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods and Associate Minister for Housing (Māori Housing) Nanaia Mahuta. ...
Hokianga will receive $2.7 million to redevelop four of its wharves and upgrade its water supply, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. Far North District Council will receive $1.8 million from the Provincial Growth Fund for the work on the wharves. “The work will include the construction of ...
A $350 million Residential Development Response Fund is being established to support the residential construction sector and to minimise the economic impact from COVID-19, the Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced. “The Residential Development Response Fund will help to progress stalled or at-risk developments that support our broader housing ...
As part of a broader plan to divert waste from landfill, the Government today announced $10.67 million for new infrastructure as part of the Resource Recovery Network across the Auckland region. “This key investment in Auckland’s community recycling network is part of the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group ‘shovel ready’ projects ...
The Government is investing $45 million in the first stage of an ambitious urban development project for Tauranga that will employ up to 250 people and help the region grow, Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford announced today. Phil Twyford says the funding has been allocated out of the $3 billion ...
Getting low-emission trucks on the road is a step closer with investment in infrastructure to support hydrogen vehicles, the Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods has announced. The Infrastructure Reference Group has provisionally approved $20 million for New Plymouth company Hiringa Energy to establish a nationwide network of hydrogen-fuelling stations. ...
A new trades training centre to upskill the local workforce will be built in the South Waikato town of Tokoroa through funding from the Government’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, Education Minister Chris Hipkins and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones have announced. The Government will contribute $10.84 million from ...
The Government has agreed to repeal part of the Oranga Tamariki Act subsequent children provisions, Minister for Children Tracey Martin announced today. “There are times when children need to go into care for their safety – the safety and care of children must always be paramount,” Minister Martin said. “But ...
A $1.5 million boost to grow primary mental health and addiction services for Pacific peoples in Auckland, Hamilton and Canterbury will lead to better outcomes for Pacific communities, Associate Health Minister Jenny Salesa says. Pasifika Futures has received funding to expand services through The Fono, Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest by ...
Twenty-two projects to boost the sustainability and climate resilience of New Zealand’s food and fibres sector have been announced today by Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. The $18m funding will deliver practical knowledge to help farmers and growers use their land more sustainably, meet environmental targets, remain prosperous, and better understand ...
Employment Minister Willie Jackson welcomes an initiative that assists employers to get mature workers into New Zealand small businesses. The disadvantages that older people face in the workplace was highlighted in the whole of Government Employment Strategy. In order to address this, a Mature Workers Toolkit has been developed and ...
New Zealand and Australia reaffirmed today the need for the closest possible collaboration as they tackle a global environment shaped by COVID-19, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said. “In these challenging times, our close collaboration with Australia is more vital than ever,” said Mr Peters. Mr Peters and his Australian ...
The recovery and forensic examination of the loader driven by survivor Russell Smith means the underground team are now moving into an area of the Pike River Mine that has not been seen since the explosion, Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry Andrew Little said. “The fifth and last robot ...
The Government has confirmed a community-wide trial of CovidCard technology as it explores options for COVID-19 contact tracing. “Effective contact tracing is a vital part of the COVID-19 response,” Minister of Health Chris Hipkins said. “While manual processes remain the critical component for contact tracing, we know digital solutions can ...
The government is proposing changes to aquaculture legislation to improve the process for allocating and transferring aquaculture assets to iwi. Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash has introduced the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Amendment Bill to Parliament. It proposes a limited new discretionary power for Te Ohu Kaimoana Trustee Limited (ToKM). ...
The Minister of Justice has today introduced the Family Court (Supporting Children in Court) Legislation Bill – the next step in the ongoing programme of work to fix the failed 2014 Family Court reforms led by then Justice Minister Judith Collins. The Bill arises from the report of the Independent ...
A new Department of Conservation (DOC) action plan tackles the impacts of climate change on New Zealand’s biodiversity and DOC managed infrastructure including tracks, huts and cultural heritage. Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage says extreme weather events around the country have really brought home our vulnerability to changing weather patterns. ...
A heavily scaled back international Antarctic season will commence this week, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods have confirmed. “Antarctica is the only continent that is COVID-19 free,” Mr Peters said. “Throughout the global pandemic, essential operations and long-term science have continued at ...
The Government is providing up to $30 million to help fund the NZ Campus of Innovation and Sport in Upper Hutt - an investment that will create 244 jobs. “The sports hub is designed to be a world-leading shared service for a range of sports, offering the level of facilities ...
Transport Minister Phil Twyford announced today transport projects currently in construction will continue at pace due to extra Government support for transport projects to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. To keep the $16.9 billion 2018-21 National Land Transport Programme going the Government has allocated funding from the COVID Response and ...
$50 million for further rural broadband digital connectivity has been allocated from the $3 billion infrastructure fund in the COVID Response and Recovery Fund has been announced by Shane Jones, Minister for Infrastructure and Kris Faafoi, Minister for Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media. The investment will go to boosting broadband ...
The Minister for Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media has congratulated the Ultra-fast Broadband (UFB) programme on its major milestone of connecting more than 1 million New Zealand households and businesses to UFB. “This milestone has been 10 years in the making and demonstrates the popularity of the UFB network. “Uptake ...
Landmark legislation passed today puts New Zealand on track to saving thousands of lives and having a smokefree generation sooner rather than later, Associate Health Minister, Jenny Salesa says. The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill regulates vaping products and heated tobacco devices. “There has long been concern ...
A discriminatory law that has been a symbol of frustration for many people needing and providing care and support, has been scrapped by the Government. “Part 4A of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Amendment Bill (No 2) was introduced under urgency in 2013 by a National Government,” Associate ...
Kiwi motorists are set to reap the benefits of a more competitive fuel market following the passing of the Fuel Industry Bill tonight, Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods says. “This Act is where the rubber meets the road in terms of our response to the recommendations made in the ...
The Government has delivered on its promise to New Zealanders to modernise tenancy laws with the passing of the Residential Tenancies Amendment (RTA) Bill 2020 today, says Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing), Kris Faafoi. “The Residential Tenancies Act 1986 was out-dated and the reforms in the RTA modernise our ...
New rules to protect and restore New Zealand’s freshwater passed into law today. Environment Minister David Parker and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor welcomed the gazetting of the new national direction on freshwater management. “These regulations deliver on the Government’s commitment to stop further degradation, show material improvements within five years and ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced the appointment of Jeremy Clarke-Watson as New Zealand’s new Consul-General in Los Angeles. “New Zealand and the United States share a close and dynamic partnership, based on a long history of shared values and democratic traditions,” Mr Peters said. “Mr Clarke-Watson is a ...
Victims of family violence can end a tenancy with two days’ notice Landlords can terminate tenancies with 14 days’ notice if tenants assault them Timeframe brought forward for limiting rent increases to once every 12 months Extension of time Tenancy Tribunal can hear cases via phone/video conference Reform of New ...
Two employment schemes – one new and one expanded – going live today will help tens of thousands of people continue training on the job and support thousands more into work, the Government has announced. Apprenticeship Boost, a subsidy of up to $12,000 per annum for first year apprentices and ...
A senior journalism lecturer is urging the foreign media to respect New Zealand’s strict reporting restrictions for the sentencing of the gunman who carried out the Christchurch mosque attacks last year. Brenton Tarrant will be sentenced in the High Court in Christchurch beginning on Monday, August 24. Eighteen overseas and ...
Celebrity agent Ryan Serhant is promoting the sale, a snip at $24 million. It looks so good, why let pesky details like closed borders and foreign buyer bans stop you?Along with panoramic views, adventure sports and fine wines, the New Zealand pitch for wealthy Americans now includes the lure of ...
The Green’s latest housing policy is a lot of wishful thinking, National’s Housing spokesperson Jacqui Dean says. “Blue-sky thinking has never been the Green’s problem, but delivery has. “The Government partners talked a big game on housing ...
Studying a Bachelor of Arts at AUT helped Guled Mire understand his place in the world, so that he can make a difference in his community. Video: AUTBy Simon SmithGuled Mire says his new Fulbright NZ scholarship to study at an Ivy League university in the United States ...
Kia ora everyone. Thank you all for coming here today. Thank you to the community for having us today, I’m proud that this is my neighbourhood! And thank you to the Housing Foundation for having us, as we announce the next exciting pillar of ...
The Green Party has unveiled its housing plan which aims to get the record-high number of people off the social housing waiting list, while improving the size and quality of the rental market. ...
In its third major policy announcement, the Green Party has revealed a suite of plans to subsidise community-provided rental housing and boost the state housing build programme, Marc Daalder reports Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and global economic meltdown, New Zealand's housing crisis has continued unabated. House prices are still surging and the ...
By Patrick Makis in Buka Contact tracing has begun for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville’s first covid-19 case. The 22-year-old male, who had returned from Port Moresby on an Air Niugini flight on July 29, is stable and is being isolated in Arawa town. ABG’s Deputy Controller, Health Secretary Clement ...
The Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon wants New Zealanders to amplify the resilience of Māori whānau and communities on the International Day of Indigenous Peoples on Sunday 9th of August. The theme for the day is ‘COVID-19 and Indigenous Peoples’ ...
A small proportion of Covid-19 patients continue experiencing symptoms long after they test negative. Freya Sawbridge, one such ‘Covid long hauler’, describes what it’s like.Four months have passed and I’m onto my fifth relapse. The room is eerily still yet my mind spins like the stripes of a barber’s pole. ...
A new poll shows New Zealand First list MP Shane Jones coming third in the contest for the Northland seat that's being seen as crucial to his party's chances of staying in Parliament. ...
A poll in the electorate seat of Northland shows New Zealand First could be out of Parliament altogether after the election Shane Jones has a big hill to climb if he wants to take Northland and secure NZ First's position in parliament. National Party candidate Matt King is well ahead of ...
Christchurch writer Chris Stuart spent decades toggling between high-stakes overseas aid work and the strange safety of home. Out of that has emerged a crime novel: For Reasons of Their Own. I used to always tell people that when you work in war zones and disasters, you are only ever a ...
Welcome to Election Live for August 9, bringing you the latest on election 2020 and other breaking news. For key dates in the election seasonclick here. For all you need to know about the cannabis referendum click here. For the assisted dying referendum click here. 7.15am: Labour tax policy coming ...
New Zealand's unofficial poet laureate Victor Billot pens topical verse every Sunday. This week: the rotten egg laid by the outgoing coalition governmentLet’s keep moving I was sitting in my cheap motel room next to the window, smelling petrol fumes when on the TV came a lady in red ...
She’s Cheryl West, she’s Ellen Crozier, she’s the woman who makes headlines for throwaway jokes online. Sam Brooks talks to Robyn Malcolm, actor and activist.There’s nothing more compelling on a New Zealand screen than Robyn Malcolm wanting something. Whether it’s Cheryl West trying to get a lingerie business off the ...
The Labour leader returned yesterday to the Auckland Town Hall, where she was last seen riding the Jacindamania wave towards government. Toby Manhire went along to see how this campaign launch compared to the 2017 edition.A lot was the same. The big wash of red light bouncing off the Town ...
REVIEW: JACINDAMANIA: THE SEQUELWritten, directed and starring: Jacinda ArdernGenre: Political love story Classification: General ReleaseRunning Time: Six weeksShowing: NationwideRating: * * * * starsReviewer: Tim Murphy We've waited three years but the sequel to the 2017 blockbuster Jacindamania has finally arrived, debuting Saturday at the ...
Judith Collins is still shy of a month into the job but in her media blitz she and her arched eyebrows are everywhere, along with the party slogan "Strong team, More Jobs, Better Economy". ...
New Zealand First is pleased to announce the next tranche of candidates that will represent our values and spread our message across the country at this year’s election. We thank these hardworking New Zealanders for putting their hand up to take on the ...
A high-ranking Chinese candidate promoted over more than a dozen incumbent MPs is the biggest surprise in an otherwise orthodox National Party list for the 2020 election, as Sam Sachdeva reports The National Party has released its list rankings for the 2020 election, with the ascent of new candidate Nancy ...
The National Party is pleased to announce the appointment of Nancy Lu to the National Party’s List for the 2020 General Election, President Peter Goodfellow says. “Nancy Lu is a Chartered Accountant with a background in accounting and business working ...
Headline: A crisis of governance. – 36th Parallel Assessments [embedded content] The Port of Beirut warehouse explosion, involving 2.7 kilotons of highly explosive ammonium nitrate negligently stored in an unsecured area, crystalizes in one national tragedy a much wider trend: the crisis and decline of democratic governance world-wide.For a ...
National’s 2020 Party List is a strong mix of experience coming up through our Caucus, and new and exciting talent joining our team from communities across New Zealand, Party President Peter Goodfellow says. “The National Party is incredibly ...
Latest from the Beehive – It looked (at first blush) like Christchurch would gobble up around half the money earmarked by the government for projects to get us on our bikes. Julie Anne Genter, Associate Minister of Transport and a Green with a fondness for two-wheeled, pedal-driven transport, today banged ...
The suggestion of putting border exemptions up for auction so large companies can bring in overseas executives and key workers is naïve and totally unfair,” says Ms June Ranson, chair of the New Zealand Association of Migration and Investment ...
Looking for a wonderfully trashy movie to watch? TVNZ OnDemand now have some of Lifetime’s best dramas for your viewing pleasure. In a world of serious and credible television, the arrival of Lifetime to TVNZ OnDemand is joyous news. Lifetime is an American cable channel that churns out emotional drama after emotional drama, ...
The introduction of a $3,100 fee for returning New Zealanders will disadvantage Māori disproportionately, Phoebe Carr (Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe)and Max Harris argue.The government has once again failed to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi by rushing through legislation to introduce exorbitant managed isolation fees for returning New Zealanders. This ...
7 August 2020: The Team of Six Million, a campaign group established to oppose the imposition of quarantine fees by the New Zealand Government, has expressed disappointment at the Government's urgent passing of the Public Health Response Amendment Bill to ...
In July support for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s Labour Party was at 53.5% down 1% since June, but still more than double the support for National on 26.5%, down 0.5%, with just over a month to go before the election in mid-September. If ...
Welcome to Election Live for August 7, bringing you the latest on election 2020 and other breaking news. For key dates in the election season click here. For all you need to know about the cannabis referendum click here. For the assisted dying referendum click here. Policy launching soon. Get in touch ...
After initial concerns about low testing rates in South Auckland, Counties Manukau DHB has the second-highest testing rate in the country. Ōtara Health chief executive Sosefina Paletaoga explains her organisation’s role in achieving this. Covid-19 has affected us all in different ways, and for us in Ōtara, it has highlighted existing ...
Oranga Tamariki's Chief Executive appeared before the Waitangi Tribunal a day after a report from the Chief Ombudsman found the agency had used its draconian powers to uplift babies too readily in many cases A Waitangi Tribunal hearing has seen Oranga Tamariki chief executive Gráinne Moss concede her organisation harmed families during ...
"A resident of the boarding house disappeared the same day Mrs Bethany’s body was discovered": provincial gothic, with astrology, by Auckland writer Mandy McMullin. I moved into the tearooms the day I turned sixteen, 23 December 2006. The same day I met Garth. It was Saturday, a lucky day for ...
The resignation of Westland Milk Products chief executive Tony Brendish almost a year to the day the company was sold to Chinese conglomerate Yili makes a mockery of assurances that there was no conflict of interest in top management preparing ...
*Watch the video in the player below*The wheels of progress turn frustratingly slow in Christchurch’s Red Zone. Frank Film asks, is anything going to happen? Hayley Guglietta is honest about her group’s activities on vacant land bordering Christchurch’s Avon River. She admits the groundwork was commenced without official ...
On this week's Extra Time podcast: After significant investigations into cycling, football and hockey in New Zealand, now gymnastics is in the spotlight around their athletes' welfare. Allegations of multiple New Zealand gymnasts suffering from verbal and physical abuse, bullying and unsafe training methods have surfaced over the past week. And ...
She’s a lone wolf, a team player, a rebel, a leader and the nicest lady around. But what combination of those do you need to survive in government?On a cold July morning, I found myself driving around Totara Park in Manurewa in the dark. I had been invited to a ...
All around the country, people are asking ‘what’s going to happen in the 2020 general election campaign?’ That’s because they haven’t read this guide, which reveals exactly what will happen in the 2020 general election campaign.Someone has finally put this term of parliament out of its misery. We’ve had three ...
The UK car industry has run a good race in the post-Brexit lobbying stakes. But Britain’s chemical industry looks to be making a late run, if recent coverage in the Financial Times is accurate.The issue for the industry is the post-Brexit regulatory regime and how this is to be ...
Latest from the Beehive – We had just finished digesting an outpouring of announcements from the Beehive over the previous 24 hours or so when the Point of Order Trough Monitor shrieked an alert. A new trough had been established. While we were inspecting the contents of this new trough, ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Chart 1, Historical: Australian much lower than Spain, Belgium and Sweden. Chart by Keith Rankin. The known incidences of Covid19 in Spain, Belgium and Sweden are similar, although Sweden lagged for a while before overtaking the other two. In deaths, Sweden is slightly lower than ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The good news in the Reserve Bank’s latest quarterly set of forecasts is that the recession won’t be as steep as it thought last time. The bad news is it ...
Analysis: National entices voters with big infrastructure projects, Judith Collins rips into Jacinda Ardern and Parliament passes a bill that could affect every tenant in the country. ...
By RNZ Pacific France’s new overseas minister Sebastien Lecornu says New Caledonia’s restrictions over the covid-19 pandemic will not affect the preparations for the October referendum on independence. Lecornu gave the assessment during a visit to New Caledonia House in Paris. Paris is expected to send dozens of officials and ...
Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa descendants are overjoyed they can do up their wharenui, while also attracting their rangatahi back to their marae, with more than $1.5 million from the Provincial Growth Fund. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julian Meyrick, Professor of Creative Arts, Griffith University National crises, like the pandemics that can provoke them, come in stages. Each stage presents leaders with unique problems that require mental, moral and emotional agility to manage. Change is the only constant, as ...
How is New Zealand faring in during the Covid-19 pandemic? Newsroom is taking a weekly look at the latest numbers related to the virus and the impact on the economy.Excess deaths Overseas the death toll in some countries has risen sharply, with the ...
Justice campaign organisation JustSpeak has outlined a vision for a society without prisons in its 2020 election campaign ‘ Our Justice Our Future ’. The campaign was launched last night in Wellington, to a sold out audience of supporters and volunteers. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vasso Apostolopoulos, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research Partnerships, Victoria University During the COVID-19 pandemic we’re constantly being reminded to practise good hygiene by frequently washing our hands and regularly cleaning the spaces where we live and work. These practices aim to remove or kill ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and University of Canberra Assistant Professor Caroline Fisher discuss the week in politics. This week Michelle and Caroline discuss the closure of ‘non-essential’ businesses in Melbourne under stage ...
Labour's campaign slogan "Let's Keep Moving" is hardly the most inspirational but reflects the conservative game plan - trade on the Covid response and stay on track. ...
By granting a permit to OceanaGold to mine under DOC land in the Coromandel, the government is not only threatening an endangered species, says Catherine Delahunty – it’s threatening future generations.I woke up angry. The government has given a 40-year permit to OceanaGold to mine under DOC land behind Whangamatā. ...
How come, after numerous condemnatory reports, Oranga Tamariki chief executive Grainne Moss holds on to her job? Aaron Smale wonders if those harmed by her tenure aren't a big enough voting bloc So, what happens when a government department breaks the law and breaches its own policies? Nothing, apparently. The latest ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ari Mattes, Lecturer in Communications and Media, University of Notre Dame Australia Review: The Meddler, screening at the Melbourne International Film Festival For movie scholars and enthusiasts, one of the worst things about the COVID-19 pandemic has been the shutting down of ...
The combination of solar panels, electricity storage batteries, smart household gadgets, and a boring looking black box is set to change forever how our electricity system works. But do we need subsidies? ...
The New Zealand Bar Assocation says misinformed criticism of a South Island judge’s sentencing of a sex offender has the potential for disturbing consequences for the justice system and society generally. The Bar Association’s President Kate Davenport ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Royal Commission into Aged-Care Quality and Safety delivered it’s interim report in October 2019. Titled ‘Neglect’, it provided a scathing insight into the aged care industry – finding it centred around transactions not care. ...
By Tom Peters, Socialist Equality Group More than one year after the March 15, 2019 terrorist attack, an official inquiry into the mass shooting that killed 51 people and injured 49 in two Christchurch mosques has still not released any information ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Damien Manuel, Director, Centre for Cyber Security Research & Innovation (CSRI), Deakin University Australia’s long-awaited cybersecurity strategy, released yesterday, pledges to spend A$1.67 billion over the next ten years to improve online protection for businesses, individuals and the country as a whole. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roxana Diamond, PhD Candidate, Flinders University This article has links that contain graphic content Many industries and employees have been hurt by COVID-19. But sex workers, who face stigma and discrimination at the best of times, have been hit particularly hard by ...
Open mike 26/08/2014 
Open mike is your post.
Dr Sommer Kapitan, Auckland University of Technology, and Dr Patrick van Esch, Auckland University of Technology The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill will limit vape sales at dairies and service stations to only three flavours, and make vaping illegal in smokefree areas. Vaping laws will be more ...11 hours ago
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Aug 2, 2020 through Sat, Aug 8, 2020 Editor's Choice Five Years After Speaking Out on Climate Change, Pope Francis Sounds an Urgent Alarm The encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ motivated many people ...21 hours ago
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From some quarters, incessant scaremongering. From others, it’s a full-on tilt into touching the alarmist buttons a little too readily (uncertain times make for very captive audiences with this angle of attack). The (so-called) Opposition (and merely regarding them as that seems to be a far looser term now ...1 day ago
National Party leader - Judith CollinsElections often bring out the best and worst in politicians. Some rise to the occasion and provide us with a clear vision for the future. While others wallow in resentment and controversy, over-relying on attack politics to try to attain the interest of voters.That’s been ...2 days ago
The attempts to sabotage Corbyn's leadership seems likely to do more damage than Corbyn supposedly ever could have done, even if all the stories about him were true: I was reluctant to say anything but this is too important, the full story needs to be told.Don’t let anyone ever tell ...2 days ago
Good day to everyone. I’ve been asked by Mr Thinks to come here and talk to you all about my concerns regarding the government response to Covid-19. We’ve been living through this pandemic for, what seems like, years. Years and years and years. Why else would the National Party have ...2 days ago
‘Good Economics for Hard Times’ should be on your reading list. New Zealand does not have a Minister of Labour. It has Ministers of Immigration and Workplace Relations and Safety but there is no minister with responsibility for the labour market. That responsibility was abolished in 2012 when ...2 days ago
Back in the Kyoto era, the international climate change regime included a Clean Development Mechanism to fund emissions reduction projects in developing nations. Essentially someone would certify that a project - e.g. building a windfarm, or installing energy-efficient lightbulbs - would reduce emissions over and above "business-as-usual". The project would ...3 days ago
By Geoffrey Miller Prominent refugee advocate Murdoch Stephens says he is disappointed by Judith Collins’ reaction to Immigration New Zealand’s decision to grant refugee status to Kurdish-Iranian writer Behrouz Boochani. Judith Collins told media last month that “there’s a lot of concern in New Zealand about what they see as ...3 days ago
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by Don Franks This talk was given to the Wellington Anti Capitalist Alliance, fifteen years ago. The ultimate weapons of mass destruction so far seen on this planet have been used just twice, 60 years ago this month. August 6 and August 9 1945 witnessed the US atomic bombing ...4 days ago
As polling day in the American presidential election draws closer, things are looking bad for Donald Trump. The polls show that he is tracking well behind his Democrat rival. Most people assume that the President will be striving might and main to avoid what looks increasingly likely to be a ...7 days ago
Our health professionals do an amazing job. Image credit: Wikipedia – Cardiac surgery. Finally, I have got back to these rankings. A long period in hospital and computer problems meant the June 2020 rankings were abandoned. Now, with a new personal defibrillator implanted in my chest and a new hard ...1 week ago
Below is the list of gender-critical material which appeared on Redline from October 1, 2019 to October 31, 2019. Rainbow Tick threatens to pull Massey’s tick if lesbians are allowed to speak Freer Lives – a gender-critical Marxist site Freer Lives on Violence, debate and Britain’s Gender Recognition Act British ...1 week ago
TUESDAY AUGUST 4Grand Designs UK (Three, 7.30pm). ...2 weeks ago
Most of the claims made by anti-fluoride propagandists are simply wrong. Image source: Fluoridation and the ‘sciency’ facts of critics Anti-fluoride propagandists continually cite studies from areas of endemic fluorosis in their arguments against ... 2 weeks ago
The Green Party has revealed its Homes for All Plan, which lays the foundation for an Aotearoa where everyone has a warm, dry and affordable home. ...12 hours ago
We've announced that we will expand the Flexi-wage programme to support up to 40,000 more people into work, or to help them start their own business. It's yet another way we're helping keep our economy moving by getting people into work and training. Read on to find out more ...2 days ago
New Zealand needs to be more aggressive in pursuing economic opportunities and resist the short-term thinking affecting some of its major industry, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says. Mr Peters told Wellington Chamber of Commerce members this morning that the planned closure of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter will have ...3 weeks ago
A pest free Banks Peninsula/Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū is one step closer with a $5.11 million boost to accelerate this project and create jobs, announced Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage in Canterbury today. “This is a game changer for this ambitious project to restore the native wildlife and plants on Ōtautahi/Christchurch’s doorstep ...16 hours ago
A senior journalism lecturer is urging the foreign media to respect New Zealand’s strict reporting restrictions for the sentencing of the gunman who carried out the Christchurch mosque attacks last year. Brenton Tarrant will be sentenced in the High Court in Christchurch beginning on Monday, August 24. Eighteen overseas and ...2 hours ago
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Celebrity agent Ryan Serhant is promoting the sale, a snip at $24 million. It looks so good, why let pesky details like closed borders and foreign buyer bans stop you?Along with panoramic views, adventure sports and fine wines, the New Zealand pitch for wealthy Americans now includes the lure of ...6 hours ago
The Green Party has unveiled its housing plan which aims to get the record-high number of people off the social housing waiting list, while improving the size and quality of the rental market. ...12 hours ago
In its third major policy announcement, the Green Party has revealed a suite of plans to subsidise community-provided rental housing and boost the state housing build programme, Marc Daalder reports Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and global economic meltdown, New Zealand's housing crisis has continued unabated. House prices are still surging and the ...12 hours ago
A poll in the electorate seat of Northland shows New Zealand First could be out of Parliament altogether after the election Shane Jones has a big hill to climb if he wants to take Northland and secure NZ First's position in parliament. National Party candidate Matt King is well ahead of ...17 hours ago
New Zealand's unofficial poet laureate Victor Billot pens topical verse every Sunday. This week: the rotten egg laid by the outgoing coalition government Let’s keep moving I was sitting in my cheap motel room next to the window, smelling petrol fumes when on the TV came a lady in red ...20 hours ago
REVIEW: JACINDAMANIA: THE SEQUEL Written, directed and starring: Jacinda Ardern Genre: Political love story Classification: General Release Running Time: Six weeks Showing: Nationwide Rating: * * * * stars Reviewer: Tim Murphy We've waited three years but the sequel to the 2017 blockbuster Jacindamania has finally arrived, debuting Saturday at the ...1 day ago
A high-ranking Chinese candidate promoted over more than a dozen incumbent MPs is the biggest surprise in an otherwise orthodox National Party list for the 2020 election, as Sam Sachdeva reports The National Party has released its list rankings for the 2020 election, with the ascent of new candidate Nancy ...1 day ago
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Bring it on soldier !
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11314137
“Mr Mitchell said the narrative in Dirty Politics was completely false, and he was considering legal action”.
Not a PS Staffer 9.3
26 October 2013 at 11:06 am
Mark Mitchell, MP for North Shore, is a former NZ Policeman who..
“launched an international business career which included the start-up of my own company specialising in hostage rescue, supply chain security and risk management. Working closely with the World Economic Forum, I helped to establish Logistic Emergency Response Teams…. ”
see http://www.markmitchell.co.nz/mark-mitchell-profile.html
Mitchell’s father-in-law Frank Gill was a National Party North Shore MP as well as being a minister and ambasador to Washington.
Mitchell is a well integrated into the National Party real power structures. Mitchell is also well integrated into the Special Services network, the Police and the Intelligence Services.
Mark Mitchell knew about the Len Brown affair because there was a professional project to displace Len that went beyond the Palino/Slater/Wewege amateurs.
Mark Mitchell’s father in law was a leery leech! Followed me around the Debating Chamber gallery many years ago. I was not impressed. Insisted on being called Air Commodore Gill. Struck me as lacking in any intellectual skills. Sounds like Mark Mitchell would have been a fine fit with his father-in-law.
I believe in Wellington they called the father in law , ‘Air corridor Gill’ aptly.
They did, and for good reason
Gill was unofficial leader of the morally conservative wing of the party during the Muldoon years.
Somebody should explain to him what discovery is
Beautiful Pete ! Mitchell probably reads “Discovery” as some sort of Remuera tractor.
Mitchell won’t sue Hager. This is just pre-relection deflection. There is nothing stopping him telling his lawyers to get cracking on it right now if he was serious. He is not serious, and like with Collins, this case will not see court.
There will, I suspect, be other cases that do see court. But not this one.
Hager has been careful to state things like
The emails show… And then tells you what the emails said.
u
As a staunch supporter of the Left, I am becoming increasingly concerned about the dangerous gaps in policy.
Last night I didn’t sleep a wink. Not one party I could call as being from the political Left (Parties that truly care what happens to people) had any mention of one of the most important details of Health and economic development policy on their websites. Over on the Right party sites, they are neck deep in satirical logical fallacies, it’s easy to tell what they really mean, but on the Left, nothing. How would a left coalition government help those in need of Cognitive Dissonance? It’s not 1968 anymore, telling people you’ll do your best if nothing comes up and to put their trust in Good Faith just doesn’t cut it.
You know what happened the other day? I went to find my car and there was this awful stink. It was so bad I thought I’d run over a hedgehog on the way into work. You know what it was? One of those Street Lifestylers wedged between my front bumper and the pipes running along the wall of the building. It was trying to keep warm no doubt. Well someone paid for that heat and he stole it. Why don’t they just hang out in cafes like everyone else if he’s that bad off. God, I hate people who don’t do what’s right. Had to get the parking attendant to roll it away. Reality is becoming so much more difficult to ignore under successive governments and ignoring my growing unease just isn’t on. The next Left government really needs to act.
Awful interview by Espiner on RNZ.
Proof the media will not discuss policies and usual wants to talk polls etc….
Now we’ve read Dirty Politics, we know the agenda.
Yep a shocker.
My only hope now – personal stuff from WhaleDump. The fight has to get dirty to drag them back in.
I just don’t know if personal stuff will have impact, or if it devalues the whole project. Hager’s been very careful to stick to the issues which show how the right has been manipulating the media and attacking its opponents, and we’ve already seen blowback like “well aren’t you doing exactly the same thing using hacked emails.”
If it gets personal it’s much, much easier for the right to brush it off by saying “see, the left are just as bad, this is politics as normal.”
given the nats current penchant for using tobacco companies to train some of its young candidates, whaledump on carrick gragam and slater might be edifying for some
@ tigger..
..i am wanting to see the extent/depth of the links with mainstream media..
..i intend to ask hager about that at his public meeting on wed nite..
(the other dump i want to see is the slater/ede one..
..that’s where it gets taken directly to key..)
Unbelievable! This no doubt was his attempt at “balance” after the roasting he gave the PM a week or so ago. But shouting 25% six times in a minute, and saying things like “I put it to you that nobody like you” is not the stuff of tough interviews – it is just a shallow and silly attack.
It’s a gotcha question. If Cunliffe answered “Sure, lots of people like me” he’d sound full of himself, if he said “Not enough like me” he’d sound hopeless. It’s like asking when someone stopped beating their wife.
I’m pretty sure that Espiner knows exactly what a loaded question is.
did he ask key if he was lying in 2011 or last week?
Espiner might but you certainly don’t Draco
I heard that also, quite disgusting. Espiner needs to be looking for another job. Something more suited to his abilities.
He has abilities????
I did think he could clean toilets but nah, that is an honest job – he wouldn’t be qualified.
Lots and lots of news articles on The Book today including these two
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/10417726/The-hacker-revealed
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/25/dirty-politics-new-zealands-own-house-of-cards-is-collapsing
Thanks for the Guardian link. Interesting that the author says it has exposed in NZ, the way politics and the media play out across many countries.
QFT
And that, to, is something that the National Party and their sycophants don’t want people to consider. It’s why they parrot the line that things were stolen which is just more of the manipulation that Dirty Politics shows so well.
plus one
Author of the Guardian article is Antony Loewenstein – one of the Australian Jewish community’s leading and most trenchant critics of Israel. Wrote My Israel Question (an excellent analysis of, amongst other things, the Zionist/”Pro”-Israeli excesses of sections of the Aussie Jewish community – particularly its lobby-groups) and co-founded Independent Australian Jewish Voices. He’s paid a substantial personal price over the years for his courage and integrity.
+100…these decent people give us hope for humanity
Awww .. thx, the Stuff link has excellent info about Whaledump. So Rawshark it is then, and our hacker does seem to be a man. Interesting comment that his motive, when fully understood, will point directly at him, and only him.
It’s a must read for many here.
But OUCH ! comment from someone under the Guardian article ..
‘NZ is the new Uruguay – a once prosperous nation now increasingly a relatively impoverished but scenic backwater’ .
Yes Awww Thanks for the Guardian link. The writer says that the dirty tricks happen all round the world and this expose is very timely. Niky has reached the World. And John Key has plummeted to the bowels of the World.
Mother of dead west coaster Slater defamed said it was most likely one of his friends was most likely the hacker!
And she was going to sue Camoron Slater!
Any legal action against Slater is cause for celebration!
+100
Sue him for what?
Defamation hope his 3rd strike earns him some time behind bars!
For the 2x convicted crim!
Sorry but that wouldn’t run. At Common Law you can’t defame the dead as reputation is a personal right which can only be defended in person.
Didn’t he also abuse her?
…
All I’m aware of is the ‘feral’ comment about the dead man which has been reported in the press. I haven’t looked at Slater’s original remarks as I’d rather sort through used lavatory paper looking for re-usable sheets.
I’d think it unlikely, though. Establishing defamation is a pretty high bar. Frankly I doubt even Slater’s comment about Judd Hall as ‘feral’ would be legally defamatory in the way that, say, calling him a fraudster or paedophile would be.
Some folk might even regard it as complimentary.
(Sorry, reply to tricledrown below.)
“Some folk might even regard it as complimentary”
The woman herself, in the morning report interview said as much about the phrase “feral” and said that a lot of people on the coast were quite happy with such a description. I’m not sure whether she specifically included herself in the group but she didn’t seem to find it offensive.
Surprised me. I would have found it so.
Vinscreen Viper is their anything Slater can be charged with!
Now Key Can’t call this a left wing conspiracy theory anymore!
There was some speculation amongst a few of us last week about the identity of the hacker and thought it may be a classmate, friend or partner of Judd Hall’s – remember Nicky Hager said the motivation for the hacking wasn’t political.
Jo(e?) Hall, Judd’s Mum , said she hoped that Key would apologise for his connection with Slater when he visited the West Coast today. I think she might be mistaken, assuming that Key has some scruples.
Here’s the thing West Coast Tasman voters. In 2011 you gave your party vote to National, with National receiving the highest amount of party votes. On 20th September turn your backs on this party that has done nothing for you and whose leader stood by the one who mocked the death of one of your sons.
Make “zero party votes for National” your goal in 2014.
+100
Lest we forget, what this present NatACT government has done to us!!!
While much attention has recently been given to the nasty “black ops” activities by a blogger by the name of Cameron Slater (aka “Whaleoil”) and certain senior staff in the Prime Minister’s Office, same as by Judith Collins and a few others, we must not forget what else happened over recent years, and for what Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has been responsible for. Here is a selection of news and other sources re her nasty “welfare reforms” and her own hypocrisy:
“Why Paula Bennett Is Not Fit To Be A Minister”, BE Media, 29 July 2009
http://brianedwardsmedia.co.nz/2009/07/why-paula-bennett-is-not-fit-to-be-a-minister/
“Some welfare reforms do breach rights, says Bennett”, NZ Herald, 25 March 2010:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10634153
“Social Development Minister Paula Bennett admits that part of her welfare reforms breach the Bill of Rights Act but says it would not bother most people.” “And Attorney-General Chris Finlayson denies he deliberately withheld his report advising that part of the Government’s welfare plans breach the Bill of Rights Act. He puts the delay in its presentation to Parliament as an “administrative error”.”
“Human Rights Commission comes out against Paula Bennett..”, Tumeke, 20 May 2010
http://tumeke.blogspot.co.nz/2010/05/human-rights-commission-comes-out.html
“OPEN LETTER TO: Hon Paula Bennett, Minister Of Social Development and Peseta-Sam Lotu-Liga”, CPAG, 12 April 2012
http://www.cpag.org.nz/news/open-letter-to-paula-bennett-peseta-sam-lotu/
Paula Bennett on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula_Bennett
“In July 2009, Bennett released the benefit details of two beneficiaries, Natasha Fuller and Jennifer Johnston, who had criticised the Government’s policy of getting rid of the Training Initiative Allowance (TIA). She said she believed she had “implied consent” for the release of the information.” “There has also been considerable criticism of Bennett for abolishing the TIA. Both Fuller and Labour MP Charles Chauvel said that they would make complaints to the privacy commissioner and Schroff, respectively.”
“The Privacy Commission investigated Bennett’s actions after receiving a complaint. In late 2010, Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff closed her investigation into the privacy complaint and referred the matter to the Director of Human Rights Proceedings for the Human Rights Commission, Robert Hesketh. On 15 August 2012, Hesketh announced the resolution of the complaint under the Privacy Act against Bennett, saying, “On the basis of the Minister’s letter to me, I have agreed to close my file. The matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.”[30] In her letter to Hesketh, Bennett wrote: “I have on previous occasions expressed to you through my counsel and to Ms Fuller, when I met with her in person, my regret at the personal cost that this incident has caused Ms Fuller. The purpose of this letter is to formally convey that.”
“As you know, I took the view that it was appropriate for me to respond to some of Ms Fuller’s comments in order to provide what I considered to be information relevant to the public debate that was taking place at the time. I acknowledge that you consider that I was wrong to do so and that this resulted in a breach of Ms Fuller’s privacy.” “As you also know, I do not accept that view.”
Other reports:
“The Achilles Heel of National’s welfare reforms”, CPAG, 02 March 2012
http://www.cpag.org.nz/topics/social-security/
“Welfare group warns thousands will suffer after changes”, NZ Herald, 15 July 2013
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10898243
“Welfare now has health warning”, NZ Herald, 16 July 2013
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10898616
“Job hunting replaces focus on welfare benefits”, NZ Herald, 16 July 2013
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10898601
“Welfare Reform – New Zealand Association of Social Workers”, 19 July 2013
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1307/S00237/welfare-reform-new-zealand-association-of-social-workers.htm
Some of the results we know about:
“Record numbers struggling to make ends meet”, 04 Nov. 2013
http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/article/?id=34699
“Don’t copy our welfare cuts, New Zealand experts warn Australia”, The Guardian, 03 June 2014
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/03/dont-copy-our-welfare-cuts-new-zealand-experts-warn-australia
“How is Government evaluating its welfare reforms, and why aren’t we allowed to know?”, M. Fletcher, Public Address, 29 June 2014
http://publicaddress.net/speaker/how-is-government-evaluating-its-welfare/
VOTE WISELY on 20 September 2014!
@ xtasy….which Left party are you voting for ?…and why?…because this may affect my vote ie I may vote the way you suggest
Chooky, I am most likely to give the Greens my party vote, although I cannot agree with some of their policies. They do though seem to offer the best deal to those dependent on WINZ, and actually want to bring in a kind of universal basic income, by replacing the present Social Security Act with new law. That basic income would be topped up, and it seems they are prepared to ensure people get enough to live from, whether they care for children, are disabled, studying or whatever else.
See their policy:
https://home.greens.org.nz/
https://home.greens.org.nz/policy/income-support-policy
https://home.greens.org.nz/policylist
https://home.greens.org.nz/policysummary/disability-policy-summary
Like with all parties, they list much aspirational stuff, but I trust them more than Labour, certainly when it comes to social security. Question will be how much they can push for when negotiating with Labour to form a government, but I have reservations re Internet Mana, as they will most likely not be such an important player, and may not even be needed for a government. Also I have some concerns about Dotcom’s involvement, and how many in the public perceive them.
Labour have got some interesting social policy too now, but they really do much more for those able to work, and in some ways they seem only moderately caring for the unemployed sick and disabled. Work is their mantra for many social ills, a bit like the National Party, just not as unfair and harsh.
But take a look at all left of centre parties’ policies, I just stated my thoughts.
@xtasy…thanks!….that is good to hear about the Greens because i was going to Party vote for them anyway …you just confirm my intended vote ..I have a brother with a handicap and who is on a disability benefit….so i will make sure that he knows your arguments and research too… Generally he votes Labour…but he may like to consider the Greens this time.
Maybe you could turn this into a Post?….so a lot more people get to see your research, arguments and hear your perspective on this very important party policy issue.
I am not going to turn stuff into a post, although this “comment” above is the size of one. Over the coming days and weeks I will present a bit more of stuff that I have saved, that I can find by Google search, and that will remind people of what the Nats under Key and Bennett have done to harm and harass so many.
I will also endeavour to present a bit more on Dr Bratt and so forth. A few good comments on Open Mike will be read by many, I am sure.
well i think many beneficiaries and those who support them do need some guidance on which parties have the BEST policies for them and why….or at least a personal perspective from the coal face to spark off their thinking on which party to vote for
….you could always maybe circulate it in a post on the Daily Blog as well?
Just placed a reserve on Dirty Politics at the library. I am number 63 in the queue and there are 10 copies available for loan….so much for the public not being interested.
I ordered it from my library and was no. 320 in the queue. Let’s hope a lot of undecided voters read the book and vote accordingly.
you can maybe ask on here for a loan copy from someone .. I can’t help as I have the kindle version on my computer. but asking is worth a try. (And to maintain mutual anonymity, make a new gmail account and post it for someone to contact you. I did it when book first came out, and had it all arranged .. but then ebook was available.)
#320 is a long way down and the election is close !
Good idea yeshe. We could have a Standardista Dirty Politics library. I’m in Wellington and more than happy to lend my copy. This book is essential reading for all NZer’s of any political colour. (principled National voters would be disgusted at the depths their party has sunk to)
I can’t afford to buy books these days (my days collecting of books came to an abrupt end when financial circumstances changed!) but used the grocery money to get my copy. Well worth having baked beans on toast two meals in a row as a consequence!
😀 @rosie
and did you see the Stuff link at #5 ? most interesting indeed from the whaledump hacker.
Yes! Rawshark! So just playing catch up, the hacker and whaledump are the same person?
Great Guardian article too, from Awww’s link.
maybe not the same person, but same intent !! And more ….
I see the Pike River families are planning a silent protest at Key this afternoon with Jo Hall ( Judd’s mother) hopeful of an apology from Key .. well, at least she’s going to make it plain it is what she expects.
(oops .. just saw your previous post on same subject, sorry)
Happy to loan out my copy too.
Any thoughts how we could make this work? I am in Wellington.
Anyone who would like to read it, message me and maybe we can arrange a meeting point.
What I did last week — I created a new gmail account, with a family name .. then I posted that email addy on here for the poster to contact me, which he did. I don’t know if his name was real or not ! Good luck …
How about creating Standardista Virtual Library Hubs? That way we can get copies to each other, and save money by minimising on the postage.
yes it was
😀 thanks again …
I’d suggest, if it were ok with Lynn, that if a person requested to borrow a book, that Lynn could forward the “issuer’s” email address to the “borrower”. This would perhaps mean there would a be a list on this site with commenters/issuers and their areas, that borrowers could select from. Borrower x see’s that issuer y in Tauranga has a copy of The Book they can lend. They get in touch via email and arrange collection or postage.
There needs to be an element of trust in doing this, but I feel more comfortable with option than yeshe’s one below. (Could you get spammed by crazies?)
Depends on whether Lynn and or authors have the time to muck around supplying emails.
There is a problem with the privacy policy. I will have a look around for a private messaging facility for the site.
Oh yes, I see. Thank you.
much better than my idea which worked solely as a one off ! Thanks Lynn.
or you could just strip out the DRM form a purchased copy from amazon and share that, takes less than 3 minutes to do. After all, information should be free and copyright is an outdated concept enforced by the fascist lackeys of corporates. If it wasn’t against the law (and I respect the property rights of the Standard), I’d a post a link to it here. Wouldn’t surprise me however if its not already on Mega.
nadis, nadis, nadis. oh dear.
“or you could just strip out the DRM form a purchased copy from amazon and share that, takes less than 3 minutes to do.”
How? I had a look online simply so I could open the book in something other than kindle which doesn’t support page numbering (doh!). The couple of online and download apps I tried couldn’t rip the book.
I have a copy for loan
I have said I would never again post on TS, but in this case, I’m willing to make an exception. I will lend my copy. Contact me at “borrowdp [at] hmamail.com”
Maybe you can borrow key’s copy?
well it would be brand new and untouched by human hand !!
How long does your library loan books for? I would assume that it is a week so only 3 more people will get each book before the election.
I imagine the number on the list will go to zero on 21 September.
Didn’t hear it but heard my husband abusing the radio when he heard it. Didn’t blame him when he told me about guyons incisive, in depth interview of Cumliffe. I think DC should just send ‘The Office’ next time. Trying to get a decent interview from guyon is just a waste of time for David. Who says to ANYONE “I put it to you that nobody likes you” Well guyon, you are universally disliked , you could be better but you choose daily to show yourself up as a biased, boring lazy interviewer. And your voice is barely distinguishable from Susie’s
Nothing terribly surprises me anymore, but I have to admit that the NZ Herald is challenging that.
Today in the Herald there’s two puff pieces on National and none on Labour. Worse we get this in one of the puff pieces on National;
That’s the bit that everybody sees on the website.
The other puff piece, and the bit that everybody sees is;
Labour’s budget is presented as an ‘alternative’ budget.
There’s a story in the Money section titled;
I cannot see how it is possible to maintain a democracy under these conditions.
“I cannot see how it is possible to maintain a democracy under these conditions.”
Only the illusion of democracy remains, soon as you understand that it makes sense.
+1
The 4th Labour government sold our democracy out to neo-liberalism and a return to feudalism.
Modern democracy,is just the freedom to do as you are told.re read (Secrets,Lies and Democracy)Noam Chomsky
I’ll loan a copy to the standard library.
do i have to say/point out again what a rightwing-toad/dweeb rawdon christie is..?
Rawdie’s bloody thick as well. Just not up to it. Watch the uneasy pause, the shamble, the momentary ‘just sucked a lemon’ mouth when he gets a challenging response to whatever facile question/assertion he’s put/made.
Followed by eyes averted, semi-smile recovery. “W-e-e-l-l-l-l……nevertheless……”
he’s like that person who stands right behind the bully…
..remove the bully..he squeals and runs away…
Anyone catch that clip on telly this weekend where Slater said he would be involved in politics long after Key had left the scene?
And in a moment of supreme zen weirdness he said he had “met and dealt with” every PM from Muldoon onward?
How old is he? 40? If so, he reckons he was dealing with Muldoon when he was 10, and with Lange when he was 11. And he goes on telly and squints into the camera and says this as if it’s real.
Jesus, this is the fucking spoon Key got to help him run the country.
Slater is 43.
Some bold claims there at the link. Well, I guess he never had to put them into practice because he wasn’t voted in.
Bit rich, eh? Lied about his address, too.
“And in a moment of supreme zen weirdness he said he had “met and dealt with” every PM from Muldoon onward?”
He may not referring to dealing PM’s while they were still in office. Which would still probably discount Muldoon.
I don’t doubt that a few important figures patted him on the head as a child, but “dealt with”, that’s just lolzworthy.
He deals with Key. We know this to be true.
I suspect he has had dealings with Shipley, as she is an important part of the cartel that Key and Collins are involved in. All post-PM though.
I can’t think of any other PM who would be likely to give him the time of day, in or out of office.
Remember his father was the president of the National party for years so dinner party’s bbq’s etc no doubt Camoron would have met and been influenced by National Party insiders he is a credit to all of them!
Prior to becoming the Nat Party president, he was the chairman of the all important Auckland National Division going back to the 1970s. Wee Cameron would have been the recipient of a lot of head patting from National Party senior figures as he grew up. Perhaps his head sustained a bit of damage in the process.
Doesn’t take Guyon long to revert to type, viz. snooty little clipped-tones toff, barely suppressing the alter ego of ‘Headmaster GodKey’ sans smirk lurking within. Michelle-Boag-on-steroids Ferguson equally unfit for RNZ Morning Report.
How unartful are these media lads and lassies when the only route to the guts of matters is their anger at being personally affronted ? As for example the “Is it OK ?” episode Guyon with TheGodKey last week.
no, Guyon is not ok, ever
never has been..
Still had my heart thumping that did. Is it ok? Is it ok? Is it ok?
25% 25% 25% 25% – not so much
An outstanding blog by Giovanni Tiso this morning.
I would have left a message congratulating him, but couldn’t figure out the new comments configuration on his site. So I’ll say it here: Bravo!
http://bat-bean-beam.blogspot.co.nz/2014/08/the-jane-clifton-continuum.html
really..?..he is a defender of josie pagani..?
..you like that..?
Read it again.
no thanks..
You should.
/
Posted by Giovanni Tiso at 11:59 PM ShareThis
Labels: Interpolations, satire
Yes – quite subtle satire at that.
(Will confess to having to read it several times …)
Just shows how inured we are to these kinds of arguments.
My particular bugbear is the false equivalence arguments where some nobody getting kicked unconscious in a gutter equals one Person Who Matters feeling insulted by a criticism about their behaviour. And we see these kinds of false equivalences and unequal treatment according to status all the time in the media because the bias it reflects is so ingrained – in a large part by the media itself in an obscene vicious circle with public opinion.
A beneficiary is vilified for not being able to make ends meet on a benefit set at a rate which makes doing so impossible, while in the same issue of the paper a Remuera couple who lost money in a collapsed finance company gets a sympathy piece and their “give a little” page which is up to $50,000 of donations is advertised because they might have to sell their house and buy something more affordable.
And who has been deliberately creating and maintaining these circles?
I agree, and this election has shown up the assumptions associated with inequality like no other. A National Party ad that verges on self parody, and could almost double as an ad for a posh private school. The hounding and demeaning of every representative on the left, while the PM, who really is accountable, is allowed to alter the meaning of words, and refuse to answer questions with impunity. Debate seems to have descended to the level of sixth form bitchery with the “aspirational” dominating the common room and the remainder cast as flea-bags. I am all but waiting for some lip-glossed, right leaning, TV presenter to shout, “You can’t say that to me, because I’m a TV presenter and I’m beautiful!”
Most complete sardonic riff I’ve seen since dealing with a teenage daughter.
Excellent work Tiso.
just found this…it is very cool..!
..a simple online way to make yr own gifs..
..you just have to upload a pic..
..i am looking forward to some good key/slater ones from you all..
http://www.wired.com/2014/08/revist-link/
Dame Anne Salmond: Royal commission of inquiry needed to clean up NZ’s dirty politics.
.
The Dirty Politics saga cuts to the heart of political life in New Zealand. Over the past 10 years there has been an insidious shift in the way that government works, with increasingly autocratic, arrogant ministers taking away the levers of power from citizens and civil servants.
The independence of the civil service has been eroded, with ministers routinely interfering in operational decisions. Last year, the Law Society felt impelled to report to the United Nations that Parliament had been used to pass a succession of acts that strip away rights, freedoms and protections from citizens, in breach of the Bill of Rights. Ministerial accountability has become a farce.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11314367
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/60852283/French-government-resigns-PM-to-form-new-government
Centrist? Has the election already happened and Key been turfed out while I was in the shower?
You seem to have fallen for Whalesludge’s spin Puckish.
Oh please Keys center right at best (Labour-lite at worst)
Key is radical RWJN and what he really wants is a return to feudalism as proven by his sales of our assets against our will.
Lets see, John Key didn’t sell any assets as the controlling share is still held by the government whereas Labour sold 100% of the assets (and also a lot more then National ever did)
National strengthened the overseas investment rules (which were woeful under Labour) and yes more land was sold under Labour then has been sold under National
Also hes stated no more asset sales this term, its still legal to join a union and promoting free healthcare to under 13s
Yes hes a RWNJ and wants us to return to feudalism
Dear DTB and labour are going to sell housing nz land as part of kiwibuild. Funny how it is ok to sell nz state assets when we do it. A great opportunity lost as the land could be better used IMHO for new state houses. Then we have today in the herald 40m2 houses on 119m2 sections at a bargin $339k , is this what affordable housing has become we the voter should be demanding that state land esp within Auckland be used to build state houses, and also help to reduce the govt housing subsidy paid to land lords.
I don’t think it’s OK at all. I’m not impressed one bit by Labour’s housing policy. We need more state houses, and for many reasons. A good building program would provide training, employment, push prices down and have a follow on effect on private rents.
PR can’t tell what is right or wrong any more Bearded Git. He just makes assumptions and expects people to worship him.
Just capitalism, in general, collapsing.
And in a few weeks we’ll be able to say See, another conservative government down the toilet.
And Dirty Politics continues to erode National’s credibility here:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11314137
More than a third of voters may change their vote over Dirty Politics. Game changer.
“The shadow of ‘Dirty Politics’ still hangs over the campaign. John Key is not answering questions about the book on the trail anymore. He is trying to draw a line under it in the hope it has not damaged his and National’s position too badly. National’s internal polling is said to show the book’s revelations are not resonating with the public.
However, TVNZ’s Vote Compass survey found the book had affected 36% of the 13,913 voters who took the online poll, who said it may change their vote to varying degrees”
And on another issue National is on the wrong side of:
“A 3News Reid Research poll released last night showed 77% of voters believed there should be stricter controls on foreign ownership and 20% said there should not be stricter controls”
Read about both issues here:
http://www.interest.co.nz/news/71637/poll-shows-most-want-foreign-buying-limits-survey-finds-over-third-say-dirty-politics-wil
my favourite from the link .. thx BG .. good to be reminded this is all we need …
“The knife-edge nature of the electoral mathematics of MMP mean a loss of 2-3% support from National would be enough to put its re-election in doubt, and it is already going into the election with opinion poll support around 2-3% lower than in the lead-up to the 2011 election, which it won by less than 10,000 votes.”
And what a bloody costly 10,000 votes.
Key cannot blame it on left wing conspiracy theorists any more!
Cameron Slater and Conman Key have to take Personal Responsibility for their self made mess!
Key can’t even blame dotcom!
Key is now trying to mumble his way round the massive mess of his own creation!
Key sounds like a lying little school boy!
I see DPF is having a wee cry about nasty song written about his idol.
Diddums.
If you declare a war on the poor this is what you should expect to receive.
Which particular song? There’s quite a few anti Key songs!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10422676/Song-threatens-to-kill-Key
Whoa! Didn’t know this one. There’s no mincing of words there. A bit edgy, I must admit but then again they weren’t” listened to” in 2011 (Listen to us) so the resentment edged up another notch. What does Farrar expect, the boys choir praising Key?
Excellent bass line. Quite uncomfortable with the threatening reference to fucking Key’s daughter though.
http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/8630/Listen-Peace—Kill-The-PM.utr
Does that mean you are comfortable with the threatening reference to killing him? Political leanings aside, surely this is nothing but unacceptable?
It’s a bit shocking Peter but then again a) it’s not going to happen b)I’ve listened to music all my life so am familiar with violent anti authority expressions and c) this view sums up my sentiments perfectly:
“………….. I don’t have to like it. I understand why its happening. When your suppress people and their voice it breaks through and it is not pretty as it would have been if you let them have a say in the first place.”
My main concern is with Key’s daughter being threatened. She has nothing to do with the running of the country and the threat sounds rather rapey to me. Myself I don’t like or dislike the lyrics (but like the melody) but I wouldn’t play it when people are around at my house, even guests that feel just as angry towards Key as @peace do.
I’ve listened a few times, and I agree Rosie that bit about Key’s daughter shocked me. Then listening through a few times, I think it’s a bragging attempt, and a pick up line – sad I know. It’s not that unusual for hip-hop artist – to do these brags. I think they deliberately made this section of the song shocking, but he does a vocal twist at end – to introduce himself and make it apparent who he talking to.
That said, they use shock a lot in their songs, and sexist language. Here for the other tunes.
http://www.atpeace.co.nz/#hear
@peace comment on Facebook.
*Now that I have your attention, may I remind you that
130,000 ELIGIBLE PEOPLE UNDER 25 HAVE NOT YET ENROLLED.
The current PM does not care about these people. He does not care about the growing gap between the rich and the poor in our country. He does not care about the native people of our country. He does not care about the planet we depend upon to survive, the living organism that we as humans are a functioning part of. He does not care about the right we should all have to an education. He only cares about him and his friends.
I do not want to literally kill this man. I do not wish to have sexual relations with anybody related to him. Let’s not pretend a silly little song ever changed anything. Last I seen famine was still going pretty strong since ‘Heal The World’ came out. It’s just a song. No different from Thatcher era punk. Anyone ever heard “Maggie you’re a cunt”..?
What’s important is that we ENROL TO VOTE so that we have a chance to select someone to represent us who understands the concept of empathy.
I’m fed up with this dude. But if you want to vote for him, that’s your choice. Personally, I’m voting Greens but you can vote for whoever you like. You can choose between a whole bunch of different people who represent a whole bunch of different ideologies. That’s the beauty of the political system in NZ.
Please respect my right to express my disappointment for the leader of our country.*
Read more: http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/8630/Listen-Peace—Kill-The-PM.utr#ixzz3BSbNh9A2
Thats a well written statement. Clarifies the violent intent (none) and expands on the message.
I get what you’re saying adam re the boasting/ bragging and have heard it plenty of times in songs. Get’s a bit eye rolly though, as a woman hearing it. Thanks for sharing other tunes. I’ve made a mental note to have a listen when I get a chance.
Amazing what you can convince yourself of when you really, really want to
🙄
“If you declare a war on the poor this is what you should expect to receive.”
If I poke you in the eye repeatedly for 6 years then yeah I will expect you to turn around and say something nasty to me
[deleted]
[lprent: Too far. Read the policy again. ]
?
Why too far? It was just a metaphor for what I think Laila Harre’s policies will do to my small business.
Will you also delete any links on this site to the song? Or can I put a link here to the comment I have made hosted elsewhere?
I run a small business and none of the IMP policies worry me at all. I’m more worried about the mismanagement by national and the old boys clubs with infest national, and some could say labour.
This is not capitalism, in capitalism you got to take the hits and gains. The highs and the lows. This is profit taking and a mad rush to get the last of the resources.
Ditto. I don’t know why any small business owner would ever vote for National and that includes any family farmers that may be left.
Yep. It seems the Left have a bit of impression management and communication to the small business sector catch up with. Policies which make the life of small business owners simpler and give our customers more disposable income is all good for SMEs.
Because more then likely the Greens would come in as well and the Greens are wanting to implement more costs over water rights so why would farmers vote for more costs?
Why would we vote to subsidise the costs that the farmers incur?
Not the question asked
PR you bugger all/never answer questions – so it’s a bit rich for you to say that.
I don’t think it’s really helpful to label all farmers along those lines.
PR
Current debt
86,024,914,094
Current Interest bill (@2%)
1,720,497,995
Because they keep going on about user pays and personal responsibility.
Unless you’re accusing them of being hypocrites that is.
The Greens need to be listened to along with everyone else. They after all represent a larger % of the electorate than National do.
Interesting From NBR
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/assange-help-dotcom-drop-his-sept-15-bombshell-key-ck-161400
Kim Dotcom has told OneNews the big international name who will play a role in the bombshell he’ll drop on the prime minister: WikiLeaks founder and fugitive Julian Assange, who’s holed up in Ecuador’s London embassy, is set to take part in a pre-election attack on John Key.
“I can give you a hint. Someone who is currently locked up in an embassy might be on a live video link,” Mr Dotcom said.
Mr Dotcom had warned something big will come out on September 15, just five days from the election.
He has already hired journalist Glen Greenwald, who made public the Edward Snowdon leaks. Now the addition of Mr Assange confirms the September 15 event will be about New Zealand’s spying.
Asked will September 15 do more damage to Mr Key than the Dirty Politics book has, Mr Dotcom told OneNews: “I think so.”
Nice post dv. Well this and Dirty Politics (see my post above) should see Key spending much more time at his Hawaii mansion in the near future.
I’d prefer if we organised his accommodation.
And perhaps a direct message will be read out from Edward Snowden?
lol, at Her Majesty’s pleasure
KDC said that thing during the IMP launch about how he didn’t like the German PM so hacked his credit rating to zero, and there is another PM he doesn’t like. Makes me uncomfortable, when he talks about what he wants and likes etc, instead of talking about the general good. Still too much ego and I’m just glad he’s not gunning for someone on the left (this could just as easily be about a Labour govt as a NACT one).
While I understand how KDC’s actions fall outside of healthy political action – it’s also why IMP is the dark horse in this election.
Increasingly young people are no longer interested in conventionally sanctioned political actions. They increasingly see the entire system as compromised at best – irredeemably corrupted at worst.
For them this kind of direct action, redolent of the “V” and “Anonymous” memes, holds far more appeal.
Agreed, IMP are effective in what they do. I think I will just keep expressing my discomfit about KDC himself, because as bad as things are now we still have many good things to lose.
Am also getting sick of the whole “we’re fucked” as youth slogan thing. We do have choices, and more choices this election than ever. I really wish people would get over the idea that voting is about getting what one wants. It’s not, it’s about moving us towards a better place, or even just a place where it’s easier to do the real work of effecting change. I’ve never been able to vote for a party that represents me well, but that hasn’t stopped me from seeing the value in voting. All power to IMP, I hope they do really well, but I still think that we should be encouraging people to vote because it’s a form of power irrespective of whether there is a cool party to vote for or not (and it’s not like back in the FPP dark ages when I would have had to be voting Labour at this point 😉
Yeah – and it’s worth keeping in mind that a lot of real change comes from radicals outside of the system who over time learn to work effectively within it.
On the other hand the “we’re fucked” thing will need to find a legitimate political outlet sooner or later. Preferably sooner – and if KDC is the vehicle then so be it. No-one else seems to have put their hand up.
or alternatively, pressure from radicals and mass movements which choose to never compromise sufficiently to become part of the establishment – but who by doing so effectively force those within the establishment to take those radical viewpoints into account. A historical example of this was FDR’s New Deal. Without massive pressure from workers and socialist movements – including riots and dozens of strikers killed – FDR would never have passed the New Deal. As a conciliatory figure trying to protect the future of capitalism, he had to.
Update on TPPA meetings through the country … so vital to our survival.
http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=9a51057c49&e=0663fc3518
Thanks. This deserves a post of its own asap to let many others know.
@LPrent please ? thx
Can include also the fact that TPPA is another attempt at resurrecting the MAI that was roundly rejected back in 1998. Laila Harre has pointed out to the role of online opposition in defeating the MAI and we can do it again [on video online that I viewed recently and I would be happy if someone can find it].
Worth referring to Bryan Gould’s piece in December last year which refers to the MAI-TPPA connection:
“Speak up – we can resist the powerful”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11167682
And this from:
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/33828/resisting-multilateralism
“Part of a protest march moves through Wellington in 1998, on its way to Parliament. The Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) was proposed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), of which New Zealand is a member. The MAI was intended to provide a framework for international investment based on highly liberalised national investment controls and improved investment protection, with effective dispute settlement procedures, open to non-OECD countries. The proposal provoked vehement opposition internationally. Those opposed argued the MAI favoured big business and was being imposed without adequate consultation. In the end, the initiative collapsed.”
Thanks Kiwiri for bringing those links forward.
EiE @19.1.1. Don’t like the song. Not the way to go.
On another note did anyone see, has anyone noticed David Fisher, about his relationship with Slater. Don’t have the link at hand. I wonder how many more we are going to see like this coming out of the word work.
You don’t have to like it. It is mildly distasteful. However it a direct consequence of Key’s war on the poor.
Key and DPF can’t behave like they do and then cry when these things happen.
In what world is a song about killing somebody “mildly distasteful”? It is completely disgusting and shouldn’t be defended.
It’s just a song. It won’t appeal to middle NZ sensibilities. And it’s not helpful for unpoisoning our politics. But Neoliberal policies are actually killing tens of thousands in NZ before their due time and we all accept that.
No, it isn’t mildly distasteful. It is way, way worse than that and sentiments encouraging rape and violence should not be considered justifiable by anybody professing to be left wing. I loathe John Key and fear for the future of NZ if he gets reelected. This song is more likely to get him sympathy at a time that those who thought he was great are beginning to ask questions. Really dumb.
“…sentiments encouraging rape…”
Care to point that out please?
I inwardly groan when I see a leftie express the anger in terms of violence or killing political opponents (in a country like NZ that isn’t a war zone). I don’t think it’a helpful to the left at all.
Probably not helpful at all.
But as far as I know @peace aren’t speaking for “the left” as as artists have no responsibility to do so.
Fair enough. Whoever does it, not something I support.
I’m for the means of political protest and the underlying values expressed are important.
As I see it, stuff like this just shows the depth of antipathy that exists among young people toward Key in particular and this govt in general.
None of this sentiment is ever picked up in the polls, and the political commentariat seem to have missed it, but it exists and it is building.
It’s because they either don’t want it to turn up in the polls – or they hoping they bury their heads long enough it will go away.
But just stop and talk to the young people, they are pissed off. They see what’s happening, they are not stupid. I talk to young mum’s and dads on a regular basis – they feel the future is going to be absolute hell for their kids. – I think they are right.
Funny how pollsters don’t ask that question.
I agree it shows the depth of anger. But I worry about what will replace it when the anger is expressed in the language of violence.
Not keen on bringing Key’s daughter into it either.
I’m glad to hear there are a lot of young people angry with the government and state of our society.
“I worry about what will replace it when the anger is expressed in the language of violence.”
Yeah it’s a worry alright. But it’s also entirely predictable considering the violence this govt and those they represent have inflicted on large segments of the populace.
This is a really important conversation. We’ve seen a generation of young people alienated from the political process – and that is never a stable condition.
Sooner or later something or someone will trigger that instability – and this small country may see consequences from our deepest nightmares.
It’s why the left must keep campaigning hard to get these people back voting.
Oh poor key and sophie
Key himself draws his kids into it. I’ll try and hunt it out but there’s the time Key had been bailed up about some shares – tranzrail? – and he quipped ‘ I even offered them to Max and he didn’t want them..’
Here it is
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/key-admits-sloppy-share-management-3367436
The article linked on karol’s post perhaps anker? It’s an excellent article. Shines a light on a topic, their relationship with sources, that no other journalists, most likely for a myriad of reasons, have not been able or will not to raise.
Rod Oram on Radionz on housing policies at moment, National first then Labour. Good as usual.
Says that a big change will be needed from the trend to build expensive homes as being more profitable. He talks about the building sector needing to have sort of templates to design and build cheaper homes. If we had an active government, there would be model houses designed for country-wide use, for cost and materials and practicality designed by people using their specialist knowledge for the benefit of NZs. A Buildings department would be a good idea. I think we have something of that nature that is prevented from being the needed guide by some ill-advised ideology.
EiE @ 22.1 Yep that is true. I don’t have to like it. I understand why its happening. When your suppress people and their voice it breaks through and it is not pretty as it would have been if you let them have a say in the first place.
as rare as hens’ teeth .. apology from Plunket to Gower ? must have been a very big mess ….
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10424397/Plunket-apologises-over-Gower-ambush
The state of NZ’s broadcasters: when those reporting the news are making news.
As ratshit ridiculous and plainly unprofessional as Gower can be in the visual medium Plunket comes across as the overbearing, hectoring bully in the talkback context. One for Gower here. Neither however approach the master of the universe chappie coining himself “Well Oi’ll Bee Fooked”.
I’m loving all the moralising over this song in the comments.
By the way anger young men. Hip-hop and violent.
So for the squeamish – avoid.
http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/8630/Listen-Peace—Kill-The-PM.utr
Indeed. See the discussion going on above, starting at #19
The scum involved in #dirtypolitics were/are only a phone call removed from sinister shit like this.
The National Security Agency is secretly providing data to nearly two dozen U.S. government agencies with a “Google-like” search engine built to share more than 850 billion records about phone calls, emails, cellphone locations, and internet chats, according to classified documents obtained by The Intercept.
The documents provide the first definitive evidence that the NSA has for years made massive amounts of surveillance data directly accessible to domestic law enforcement agencies. Planning documents for ICREACH, as the search engine is called, cite the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration as key participants.
ICREACH contains information on the private communications of foreigners and, it appears, millions of records on American citizens who have not been accused of any wrongdoing. Details about its existence are contained in the archive of materials provided to The Intercept by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/article/2014/08/25/icreach-nsa-cia-secret-google-crisscross-proton/
An even better one linked from there;
http://www.popehat.com/2013/12/23/burn-the-fucking-system-to-the-ground/
So the hacker explains today that when the motivation is understood, and it’s not political, it will point directly and specifically to the hacker.
maybe there are several out there with reason to do it … just as an example … from 2012 ..
http://laudafinem.com/tag/debbie-brown/
Be warned .. it has a very large and unflattering image of Slater ….
Toujours, cherchez la femme !
lol!
and this published online, dated today … lots in there I don’t personally understand, but the machinations seem deep and acidly corrosive. Have we just been been surfing on a cesspit this whole time ? Eeew.
http://laudafinem.com/category/lauda-finem-investigates/
Your warning shouldn’t be about the photo of Slater, yeshe, but about the misogyny and racism of the person who wrote the article. Pathetic stuff.
agree 100% . the whole thing is abhorrent.
That laudafinem blog has a very sleazy style. That article is very distasteful.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/10424702/Man-admits-defacing-National-Party-billboards?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
nothing in that article about him being a green member.
Has the SIS been conveniently declassifying files about government opponents again?
Nope I utilised my mad hacking skillz and got access from a source that must remain confidental
– http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2014/08/green_party_activist_guilty_of_defacing_national_billboards.html
ah, more traditional right-wing stalkerising.
Tell me, did farrar base the alleged green-connection on stolen membership records, or simply because the guy turned up to a protest?
I think he based it more on what the guy put on his own facebook page however I concede it may have been put there by a vengeful SIS in an effort to make the drop kick look bad
yes, because whenever I see someone in the court news I need to see what posts on their facebook page can be twisted for my purposes 🙄 #rightwingstalkers
protip: not everyone who says “fuck john key” is a “green party activist”.
Hey PR, was it you who – a week or so before #hagerbook – was here bragging that the dirty tricks crew have one story/smear to release every day until the election?
How’s that working out?
lol
i just sat in ak library and speed-read ‘dirty politics’..
.whoar..!
..it’s even worse than you think it’s gonna be..
..and farrar giving himself groin-stretch trying to step away from the mess..?
..and furiously washing his hands at the same time..?
..utter bullshit..!
..his little head is bobbing away in there..alongside slater/lusk/ede/hooton/bhatnagar..
..david ‘dirty politics’ farrar..
EiE
I guess you support the “Roast Busters” then?
You dickhead.
Wow
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/20147237/failed-national-candidate-wants-rogue-elements-kicked-out
This shit has got to end. So many questions like that from Brent Robinson going unanswered. He quite categorically states that Mitchell told him he had hired Lusk and Slater to do the dirty work. Now Mitchell is denying ever having spoken to Robinson about it.
This guy Mitchell is an ex mercenary, the worst type of hired thug you can get. What do the good people of Rodney think? More needs to be made of this story including some effing journos door-stepping Mitchell.
xox
Present at Oxfam Climate Change Debate in Wellington. VUW. Rutherford house. Greens present,Labour present, NZFirst present. National absent. The worlds under serious threat. National , no show. Incredible.
Hack Attack! Anonymous strikes at Israeli govt over Gaza
http://rt.com/news/182520-anonymous-attack-israeli-government/
David Farrar cries that he can’t understand why the hate shown towards people like him in this election.
John Key cries the same.
They are as ignorant as the policies and attitudes of theirs which cause the hate. So fucking ignorant.
Funny eh? Seems that the narrow constraints of polite political discourse conducted by a handful of utterly conflicted and well-heeled insiders has somehow completely misread the depth of the disgust and contempt this govt inspires in many, many people.
It’s been there for a while, I think people feel they can express it now.
Yep.
John Key failed to distance himself from Slater even when he was on the West Coast and face to face with the mother of the young man over whose death Slater danced for joy and talked with Key about. Key had nothing to say to her and Key stood with Slater. Says it all.
Key is nothing but scum.
Slater can go to hell.
I don’t believe in hell, but even if I were as amoral and insecure as slater, I’d still want to hedge my bets a bit more than he has 🙂
Interesting that Labour’s David Parker (at the debate in Queenstown tonight) argues against ‘low value’ immigration on the basis the modern economy has a diminishing need for labour, yet he is intent on pushing the age of Super out, increasing the labour pool.
That just goes to show that he’s an unreconstructed Rogernome at heart. If the left lose this time, I think he will be at least as responsible as any individual.
Ergo compulsory Kiwisaver will allow people to retire at 65 still ,!
Weka. Use caliber to manage your books. It’s pretty much an iTunes equivalent for ebooks. Apparently there are addins for it that you can find on the interweb that automatically perform various tasks. Depending on the task u want to automate, just Google for it.
do you mean Calibre? I already use that, but it can’t read the Kindle version of Dirty Politics. Once imported into Calibre, it will prompt Kindle to open and show the book there instead. Like I said, I tried various ripping options and none of them could get past the DRM, so I’m curious how you think it can be ripped easily within a few minutes.
Edit: ah ok, I see what you mean. There is a Kindleunpackit addon that creates a new file that can be read in Calibre and presumably ripped to PDF etc. cheers.
Weka. Don’t over complicate things. Just Google caliber drm.